tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234907682015-02-06T20:43:14.505+08:00Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL)codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-31191094429908187552007-04-20T08:00:00.000+08:002007-04-23T20:04:07.952+08:00ARROYO CABINET SHOULD DEMAND FIRING OF SEC. GONZALEZ: Sen. Villar and Speaker de Venecia should publicly defend the IPUCODAL urges members of the Arroyo Cabinet, Senate Pres. Manuel Villar and Speaker Jose de Venecia to demand the firing of Sec. Raul Gonzalez for issuing a series of statements that show his intolerance and insensitivity as a person and as a public official.<br /><br />Sec. Gonzalez lambasted a high level delegation led by the Secretary General of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) for merely expressing a Resolution approved by the entire membership of the IPU asking for the release of Rep. Crispin Beltran, curtly telling them ‘if you don’t want to accept my explanation you can go home and tell the whole world what you want’, adding that “I don’t want foreigners dictating on us”.<br /><br />Sec. Gonzalez was less than candid when he told the IPU the matter is “beyond me” because Rep. Beltran remains in detention due to the DOJ’s persistent objection to his release. In fact, it was the DOJ which sanctioned Rep. Beltran’s warrantless arrest and insisted that Rep. Beltran should not be granted his right to bail despite the very weak evidence against him. Sec. Alberto Romulo of the DFA should insist that Sec. Gonzalez be fired, not only for breaking protocol, but also for further exposing the intolerance of the Arroyo government to dissenting opinions. The Philippines is a member of the IPU and is therefore bound to give its representatives common courtesy. Sen. Villar and Speaker de Venecia are duty bound to the IPU to defend its representatives from the bullying of local government officials. Both should publicly demand the firing of Sec. Gonzalez.<br /><br />Furthermore, Sec. Gonzalez who was in the US during martial law, is expected to know that under international law, human rights issues are of international concern since the UN promulgated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Philippines is bound under Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to take action on human rights violations. He cannot denounce expression of concern over current human rights conditions in the country coming from the UN, European Union and now the IPU, as meddling or dictation from foreigners.<br /><br />Blaming Peace Corpse Volunteer Julia Campbell<br /><br />Sec. Gonzalez also made another insensitive remark by stating that Julia Campbell was to blame for her own death because she ‘carelessly’ went hiking alone in the Banaue Rice Terraces. Under international law, the domestic government has the burden of preserving peace and order within its jurisdiction and is obligated to protect foreigners from harm, particularly from criminal elements, while they are within that government’s territory. A municipal government cannot blame aliens who fell victims to local criminal elements since the “responsibility to protect” falls on the government. Sec. Romulo and the US government should demand the ouster of Sec. Gonzalez not only for insensitivity but for his ignorance of international law. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano should take notice of Sec. Gonzalez’ statement, which practically declared Banaue unsafe for tourists. The statements of the Arroyo government vigorously assuring countries which have issued negative travel advisories, of the safety of their nationals in the Philippines, has been exposed as a lie by the voluble Justice Secretary’s admission.<br /><br />It must be noted that under the Philippine constitutional system, a cabinet member is the alter ego of the President and his actions are deemed the acts of the President unless reprobated or renounced by the President. The statements of the Justice Secretary, unless renounced, is an admission that such reflect the position of the Arroyo government.<br /><br />CODAL believes that the Justice Department is not only expected to administer justice and the law, but is also expected to know the law. Affected members of the Arroyo cabinet and both Houses of Congress should express concern over the Justice Secretary’s remarks which have affected their respective institutions. Pres. Arroyo should now seriously consider whether it is beneficial to allow her justice secretary continue acting as her alter ego.codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-85113251239525651922007-03-13T21:40:00.001+08:002007-03-13T21:40:58.356+08:00USING LEGAL PROCESSES AS TOOLS FOR POLITICAL PERSECUTION: A CRIMINAL OFFENSE<p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">CODAL strongly condemns the use of legal processes as a tool for political repression. The highly irregular barrage of legal cases filed against Rep. Satur Ocampo and Bayan Muna, forms part of acts of harassment against the opposition such as Rep. Allan Cayetano and Mayor Jejomar Binay that suspiciously escalated during the election period.<br /><br /><i><b>Hernandez Doctrine</b></i></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> The inordinate interest of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez in filing charges against Rep. Ocampo is a case in point. Under Philippine jurisprudence (People vs. Hernandez), a crime of rebellion absorbs all crimes committed in pursuit thereof. Considering that the government has been stressing that rebellion is a continuing crime, it is strangely irregular for government to be filing complaints for acts constituting rebellion in Makati, Leyte and Nueva Ecija against Rep. Ocampo in violation of the Supreme Court decision in Hernandez. Instead of submitting all evidence and consolidating all cases in the Makati RTC where the rebellion case against the Batasan six is currently lodged, Sec. Gonzalez chose to file it in Hilongos Leyte, more than 100 kilometers from Tacloban, a clear case of harassment and political persecution that will result in Rep. Ocampo’s difficulty in campaigning and defending himself. </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">The information should never have been filed in the first place considering that the complaint suffers from a fatal defect—the allege crime was committed while Rep. Ocampo was in prison. </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">The harassment conducted by government not only further weakens the legal institutions, but also endangers the state prosecutors and judges who are now vulnerable to criminal charges and administrative cases before the Ombudsman which will surely be filed by the victims of these harassment cases.</p><p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">Judges are liable for giving an unjust interlocutory order while the prosecutors and false witnesses are liable for filing unwarranted cases or ‘incriminatory machinations’ and ‘perjury’ under the Revised Penal Code. These are also criminal offenses under Sec, 3 of RA 1319 for ;manifest partiality’. Furthermore, these are also violations of Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code if proven to be a part of partisan political activity. </p><p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>Selective ‘justice’</b></i></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> This pattern of selective justice can be gleaned from the government’s reluctance to impose sanctions on, or even just investigate, its allies while inordinately pursuing the opposition with all the legal tools in its arsenal. </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sec. Raul Gonzalez refused to at least investigate Usec. Jocjoc Bolante despite massive evidence pointing to his involvement in the ‘fertilizer scam’. AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Esperon ‘investigated’ Gen. Jovito Palparan for his involvement in the political killings merely by ‘phone’. The PNP was not enthusiastic in implementing the warrant of arrest issued by the Senate against PCGG officials. CODAL finds hypocritical and dangerous the government’s alacrity to ‘implement the rule of law’ against the opposition while continuously violating legal rules and jurisprudence. In fact, the acts against the political opposition is a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code and the Omnibus Election Code which prohibits government officials from engaging in partisan political activity and using public resources in electioneering. </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">CODAL asks the government to refrain from using legal tools and processes as a tool for political persecution. CODAL asks the legal profession to condemn the prostitution of legal institutions for political harassment. CODAL asks the Supreme Court to resoundingly assert the independence of the judiciary in the midst of attacks against the integrity of the judicial processes. </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;">Urgent Statement of Concern<br />Date : March 10, 2007</p> <p style="margin-left: 0.47in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-84177237912037048842007-02-09T10:55:00.000+08:002007-02-14T14:59:25.566+08:00SENATE APPROVED ANTI-TERROR BILL: NOT WATERED DOWN BUT MORE DRACONIAN THAN THE HOUSE VERSION<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:130%;">District Representatives asked to Declare No Vote During the Election</span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL<span style=""> </span>wishes to correct members of the Senate who contend that their version of the anti-terrorism bill is watered down.<span style=""> </span>In this instance, the authors of the House version could not outdo Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile in crafting a bill intended to terrorize legitimate dissenters.<span style=""> </span>The claim by opposition Senators that they managed to water down the bill, to justify their approval of the same, is an illusory and untruthful statement.<span style=""> </span>CODAL commends Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Sen. Mar Roxas, the only two senators who voted against the bill for maintaining their principled position despite the absence of support even from pretend human rights advocates like Sen. Joker Arroyo.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The Senate Bill is draconian because it contain the following provisions that are not found in the House version, and in fact, have never been found in Philippine legal history: </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style="">I.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="">Under Sec. 26, it allows for House Arrest despite the posting of bail, prohibition of the right to travel and the right to communicate with others<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="">Sec. 26 Restriction on the Right to Travel—In cases <b style="">where evidence of guilt is not strong</b>, and the person charged is …granted... bail, the court shall …limit the right of travel of the accused to within the municipality or city where he resides.<span style=""> </span>He or she may also b<b style="">e placed under house arrest </b>by order of the court… While under house arrest, he or she may not use telephones, cell phones, emails, computers, the internet or other means of communications with people outside his residence until otherwise ordered by the court. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Considering that the evidence of guilt is not strong, Section 26 violates the suspects constitutional right to travel guaranteed under Section 6, Art. III of the Constitution when it prohibited the travel of a suspect outside his place of residence absent a court order.<span style=""> </span>It also <span style=""> </span>violates Sec. 13, Art. III which grants bail as a right to “ALL persons, when evidence of guilt is not strong” when it allows the house arrest of that person despite posting bail.<span style=""> </span>Worse, it prohibits that ‘suspect’ from communicating through <i style="">“cell phones, emails, computers, the internet with people outside his residence</i>” a form of incommunicado detention outlawed under Sec. 12 (2) Art. III of the Constitution.<span style=""> </span>This provision virtually punishes a mere suspect even if that suspecte has not been convicted—a draconian provision that tramples on the constitutional presumption of innocence and the right to due process enshrined under Sec. 1 and 14 (2) Art. III of the</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Constitution.<span style=""> </span>This not only surpasses the House version, but any law passed even by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos during martial law.<span style=""> </span>Sen. Enrile, with the support of opposition<span style=""> </span>senators, certainly outdid himself in crafting this law.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style="">II.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="">Provides for Indefinite<span style=""> </span>Detention upon orders of an official who is not part of the judiciary<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>A deeper scrutiny of Section 19 of the Senate Bill<span style=""> </span>shows that indefinite detention is allowed upon the mere approval of a mere municipal official, among others: </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="">Sec. 19—In the event of an actual or imminent terrorist attack, suspects may not be detained for more than three days without the written approval of a municipal, city, provincial or regional official of a human rights commission or<span style=""> </span>judge of the municipal. . . <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Section 19 actually states that a suspect may be detained for more than three days provided a municipal officer, <i style="">inter alia,</i> of an amorphous ‘commission on human rights’ approves.<span style=""> </span>An ‘official’ who does not have the judicial authority to order the arrest of a person, is empowered by the Senate to order his detention for more than three days, a blatant violation of many provisions under Article III of the Constitution.<span style=""> </span>Worse, that suspect, who is not even judicially charged as an accused, may be detained for more than three days, a clear violation of the Sec. 18, Article VII of the Constitution which provides that <i style="">“During the suspension of the privilege of the writ, any person thus arrested or detained shall be judicially charged within three days, otherwise he shall be released.” <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">Demand Rejection of ATB During the Campaign Period <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The Senate bill contains more repressive provisions on surveillance, opening and freezing of accounts, and other threats on civil liberties which may be used by the executive to persecute dissenters.<span style=""> </span>The above provisions are not only constitutionally infirm but are even violative international human rights law and<span style=""> </span>the principles of international criminal law, which makes the Senate version worse than the House bill, or any other law in Philippine legal history. <span style=""> </span>Attacks against civilians by the likes of Al Qaeda. JI and the Abu Sayyaf are condemnable and must be dealt with decisively.<span style=""> </span>However, the current anti-terror bill will not curtail attacks from these groups and may even inspire more attacks once abused by the executive and the military.<span style=""> </span>The bill, even as it will not strike fear on the ‘terrorists’, will certainly be used to terrorize the opposition.<span style=""> </span>Pres. Arroyo has shown her penchant to misuse laws<span style=""> </span>against her detractors as shown by our experience under EO 464, the CPR policy and Proclamation 1017.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The credibility of the Senate and almost all senators on<span style=""> </span>human rights issues are now tainted if not completely destroyed.<span style=""> </span>CODAL asks members of the legal profession and human rights advocates to launch a campaign for the rejection of the resulting bill once it is again by a lame duck House of Representatives in June.<span style=""> </span>The people must require their district representatives during this election to declare that they will vote no on the anti-terror bill once it is presented in the House for ratification.<span style=""> </span>This is one rare instance when the people must assert a clear position on a national issue from local politicians in a local election. Since the Senate failed to protect the people from this draconian anti-terror bill, it is now up to the people themselves to directly act to force the rejection of the bill. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">Reference Person: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">Date: <span style=""> </span>February 9, 2007<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-90760754733999934902006-12-30T13:06:00.000+08:002007-02-02T13:10:48.231+08:00RELEASE OF SMITH: ABSOLUTE DISREGARD FOR THE JUDICIARY THE SUPREME COURT AND THE CONSTITUTION<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;">The surreptitious release of Cpl. Daniel Smith, in the middle of the night at that, to the custody of the United States, despite pending litigation in Philippine courts, is not only a violation of the Constitution, but also a complete disregard and disrespect for the judicial branch including the Supreme Court. It is not only a contempt of court, but treachery that signals the complete breakdown of the rule of law. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Pres. Gloria Arroyo has submitted the custody issue to the jurisdiction of the judiciary by intervening in the Court of Appeals and arguing against Judge Pozon’s order. Not only is the Executive without the power to transfer a convict under the custody of the Regional Trial Court, but it is also estopped from doing the same since it submitted the issue to the judgment of the Court of Appeals, and ultimately the Supreme Court. The unilateral action by the Executive is courting a constitutional clash between two branches of government, should the Supreme Court uphold RTC Judge Pozon and order the Executive to confine Smith to the Makati City Jail or the New Bilibid Prisons. The US embassy is a foreign territory under international law, beyond the reach of any Supreme Court order. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Pres. Gloria Arroyo has again committed another culpable violation of the Constitution. Under Sec. 17 and Sec. 5, of Art. VII, 1987 Constitution the President is required to defend the Constitution and execute all laws faithfully. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Under Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution, anyone who commits a capital offense in the Philippines cannot post bail nor be released on recognizance, when the evidence of guilt is strong. Not only were the evidence strong against Smith, but they were sufficient to find him guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Allowing the accused to remain in US custody is releasing Smith on ‘recognizance’ to the US government, clearly not allowed under the Constitution. The Visiting Forces Agreement, or any treaty for that matter, cannot trump the 1987 Constitution.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> The US will in fact be violating their obligations under the VFA if they continue exercising absolute custody over the accused as provided in Art. II (VFA):</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.07in 0.67in 0.07in 0.88in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;font-size:85%;" ><i>Art. II It is the duty of the US personnel to respect the laws of the Republic of the Philippines x x x The US Government shall take all measures within its authority to ensure that this is done.</i></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"><br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Wrong Appreciation of the VFA </b></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> The VFA is unconstitutional under Sec. 25, Art. XVIII of the Constitution which provides that : </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Sec. 25. x x x foreign military bases, troops or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines EXCEPT UNDER A TREATY CONCURRED IN THE SENATE and, x x x RECOGNIZED AS A TREATY BY THE OTHER CONTRACTING PARTY.</i></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> The US has not recognized the VFA as a treaty, and has refused to have it ratified by the US Senate until today. Since, the VFA is not recognized as a treaty by the US, it cannot be the basis for the entry of “foreign troops and facilities” into the Philippines. It is the height of self-humiliation for Pres. Arroyo to insist on calling the VFA a ‘treaty’ while the US refuse to accord it the same level of respect. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Additionally, transferring Smith to the custody of the US violates the VFA presuming the VFA is constitutional. The relevant provision is not Paragraph 6, which discusses the trial stage, but the later provision under Paragraph 10, which appropriately discusses the custody of those convicted and are serving sentence, to wit: </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Sec. 10—The confinement or detention by Philippine authorities of US personnel shall be carried out in facilities agreed on by appropriate Philippine and US authorities. United States personnel serving sentences in the Philippines shall have the right to visits and material assistance. </i></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Cpl. Daniel Smith has been convicted, and is now serving sentence. If he loses his appeal in the Supreme Court, the time he spent under detention is counted as part of his sentence under the Rules of Court. Sec. 10 no longer provides for US custody, but merely requires that the US has a say on which facility he will serve his sentence. The facility contemplated under sec. 10 is any of the Philippine prisons, and not a prison facility outside the Philippine jurisdiction. The US Embassy is not a detention facility abd is a foreign territory outside the jurisdiction of Philippine courts. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"><br /><br /></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Unequal Relations under the US Counterpart VFA</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> The US also signed a counterpart VFA which regulates the entry of Filipino soldiers in the US. The counterpart VFA is strictly and unequally construed against the Philippines. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Under the US VFA, the US can immediately imprison any Filipino soldier who commits a crime in US territory, and may waive said right only upon ‘request’ of the Philippine government, but unlike the Philippine VFA, the ‘request’ may be denied. Article VIII, Sec. 2 of the VFA Counterpart Agreement in the US (VFA Part II) merely requires the US government to request US ‘authorities’ detaining a Filipino to release that Filipino to Philippine custody: </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <i><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">Sec. 2 (VFA II) x x x The (US) Department of Defense will <u>ask the appropriate authorities</u> in the United States having jurisdiction over an offense committed by Republic of the Philippines personnel to waive in favor of the Republic of the Philippines their right to exercise jurisdiction, <u>except</u> in cases where the Department of State and the Department of Defense, after special consideration, determine that United States interests require the exercise of United States federal or state jurisdiction.</span> </i> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> Since the US maintains the right to refuse the Philippine ‘request’ for custody, the Philippines should also do the same under the terms of the counterpart agreement. By giving the US the absolute discretion on the custody of a convicted US personnel, immediately clashes with the Constitutional rights of the rape victim, legal provisions on bail and the equal protection clause.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> This is the first time when a US serviceman is convicted of rape and allowing the convict to escape punishment is not only unjust on the victim but an insult to Philippine sovereignty. This disparity in treatment is magnified by the fact that arrested Filipino “TNT’s” in the US are immediately detained and deported like cattle for not having a visa, while the convicted Smith stay in comfortable rooms in his embassy. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000080;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#000000;"> The Visiting Forces Agreement is unconstitutional. It not only violates the 1987 Constitution’s provisions on deployment of foreign troops, nuclear free Philippines and provisions on sovereignty, among others, but it also violates the Constitution’s provisions on criminal offenses. By not asserting Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction over the convicted rapist and transferring his custody to a foreign power, in violation of the Constitution, Pres. Arroyo has added one more ground for her impeachment and one more item in the list of crimes she has committed against the Filipino people. </span></span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in; line-height: 200%;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Reference : Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.07in; margin-bottom: 0.07in; line-height: 200%;" align="justify"> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Date : December 30, 2006</span></span></span></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1166151082681765522006-12-14T10:49:00.000+08:002006-12-15T10:51:23.486+08:00CODAL CONDEMNS KILLING OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: Seven lawyers killed this yearCODAL condemns the brutal killing of human rights lawyer Atty. Gil Gojol and the recent spate of attacks against lawyers and their families. Atty. Gojol has been a human rights lawyer in Bicol since the 1990s and was lawyer to Bicol farmers and many political prisoners charged by the military with acts of rebellion, including Sotero Llamas who was also gunned down this year. He was also counsel to members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Bayan Muna. He has been in the so called ‘order of battle’ of the AFP for sometime now due to his militant advocacy for human rights. <br /><br /> No less reprehensible is the killing of Asst. Solicitor General Nestor Ballacillo who was the second lawyer involved in the Piatco-Naia 3 expropriation case to have been assassinated. Seven members of the legal profession were killed this year, mostly by motorcycle riding men, namely: <br /><br />1. Atty. Gil Gojol who was killed with his driver in Gubat, Sorsogon;about 200 meters from a detachment of the 22nd IB of the Philippine Army;<br />2. Atty. Nestor Ballacillo who was killed with son, Benedict in Metro Manila;<br />3. Atty. Froilan Villacorta Siobal who was killed with his wife, Erlinda, in Alaminos, Pangasinan,<br />4. Atty. Rogelio Montero, who was shot together with his son who is a State Prosecutor in Bulacan;<br />5. Atty. Carlo Magno Umingga, whose wife was also wounded in the attack in Pangasinan; <br />6. Pros. Godofredo Pacenio, who was killed in Agusan del Norte; and <br />7. Judge Sahara Silongon who was killed in Cotabato City.<br /><br /> Human rights lawyers of the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center, who are counsels to workers of Hacienda Luisita were trailed by unmarked cars and a motorcycle riding man who was later accosted and identified as Private Rommel Santiago of the Philippine Army. Army General Jovito Palparan is suspected of involvement in many of the political killings. The killing of human rights lawyers such as Bayan Muna counsel Atty. Felidito Dacut and Vice-Mayor Juvy Magsino is part of the unabated political killings that plague to country today meant to eliminate activists, dissenters and their lawyers. Surviving victims of the attack and the families of those killed point to the military as the perpetrators of these crimes. Gen. Palparan headed the army unit in Mindoro when Atty. Juvy Magsino was killed in 2004. He was also head of the Army in Eastern Visayas when Atty. Dacut was killed in 2005. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> The Philippines has become one of the most dangerous places for lawyers. Nine lawyers, one judge and one law student were shot and killed in 2005. Twelve judges have been killed under the administration of Pres. Gloria Arroyo, and many of these remain unsolved until today. <br /><br /> The attack against lawyers, including human rights lawyers, is a serious threat not only on the practice of law but also on civil liberties as well, since it deprives the poor and marginalized sectors access to and representation in our courts. Almost all of these attacks have remained unsolved as the police continue to fail to arrest the perpetrators, thereby resulting in impunity and unabated killings. There has been no satisfactory development in the case of Judge Guingoyon who killed almost one year ago. The government has failed to come up with serious leads in the killings of lawyers and activists since 2001. <br /><br /> CODAL calls on Pres. Gloria Arroyo to condemn these attacks against lawyers and order the Philippine National Police to immediately and seriously investigate the killing of lawyers and harassment of other members of the legal profession. We challenge the government to also offer a P 1 Million reward for those who will provide information leading to the arrest of the killers of Atty. Gojol similar to that offered in the case of Asst. Solicitor General Balacillo. <br /><br /> CODAL asks the Supreme Court to intervene and actively press the government to prosecute those involved in these attacks. CODAL asks the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to file a complaint with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and inform international bodies of lawyers and judges of the current condition in the Philippines considering that the Philippine justice system, including the Melo Commission, is unable or unwilling to seriously investigate these killings and prosecute the perpetrators. <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Reference Person : Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<br />Date : December 14, 2006codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1165469385316756002006-12-04T13:28:00.000+08:002006-12-07T13:29:45.483+08:00NO ELECTION A CERTAINTY IF CON ASS IS FORCIBLY CONVENEDCODAL warns Charter Change proponents that their plan to scrap the 2007 elections may lead to a constitutional and political crisis. Speaker Jose de Venecia justified their proposed scrapping of the 2007 elections by admitting that it would be impossible for the Comelec to conduct a plebiscite in February and also conduct the election in May 2007. The Speaker, however, premised his argument on the possibility that cha-cha advocates will get a “yes” vote during the plebiscite. If the people will reject charter change in the plebiscite, there will still be no elections in May 2007, due to the physical and budgetary impossibility of conducting one. The COMELEC budget cannot afford two national electoral exercises, especially if the 2006 budget is reenacted. The failure to hold elections in 2007 should ‘charter change’ be defeated in a plebiscite, will create an unconstitutional government considering that half of the Senate, the entire House of Representatives and all local officials in the country will be “holding over” beyond their constitutional mandate and term, a crisis of unimaginable proportion for the Arroyo government. In fact, Chairman Abalos warned about this crisis in his recent statements before the media, and we quote: <br />Abalos also warned of a constitutional crisis if there would be no elections next year since there would no longer be a House of Representatives or Senate, because its members could not remain in office in a hold-over capacity.<br />“I don’t want to be an alarmist but if the 2007 elections don’t push through due to lack of funds, we will have a constitutional crisis because we will have no House of Representatives and a Senate with only 12 members,”<br /> <br />Constitutional Issues against “Con-Ass”<br /><br /> According to a CODAL study the current move in the House to delete from House Rule 105 the provision which states that The adoption of resolutions proposing amendments to or revision of the constitution shall follow the procedure for the enactment of bills is legally and constitutional untenable. While an ordinary bill will require the scrutiny and careful consideration of the House through 3 readings and the passage of a similar bill from the Senate, the House majority cannot explain why amendments to the Constitution need not go through the rigor of that similar process. Such a deletion will only lead to a “con ass’ without the Senate, a violation of Art. XVII, Sec. 1 of the Constitution. Speaker de Venecia and the House majority actually violates its own rules by doing so, since Rule XXV, Sec. 150 of the Rules of the House provide that : <br />“Rule 150—Any provision of these Rules, except those that are also embodied in the Constitution, may be amended by a majority vote of all the members of the House”<br /><br /> The other constitutional issue against Con-Ass is the fact that a joint session of Congress can only be convened if each of the two Houses issue a joint resolution convening both Houses in a joint session. It cannot be achieved, under the Constitution, by one House ‘inviting’ the other. Absent a Senate resolution calling for a joint session, any Senator who attends the ‘con-ass’ does so in his personal capacity and not in representation of the Senate as an institution. The Senate-less ‘con ass’ is therefore illegal and unconstitutional and will subject those who participate in it to criminal liability. Senators attending the “con ass “ representing the Senate will commit the crime of ‘usurpation of authority” under Art. 177 of the Penal Code which penalizes with prision correccional, “any person who shall knowingly and falsely represent himself to be an … agent or representative of any department or agency of the Philippine government, under pretense of official position x x x without being legally entitled to do so.” <br /><br /> Officials who will remain in office after the expiry of their term in June 2007, is liable under Art. 237 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes public officials who “continues to exercise the powers and functions of his office…beyond the period provided by law’ with prision correctional and temporary disqualification from holding public office. <br /><br /><br />Rampage during the Asean<br /><br /> CODAL warns that blatant attempts to ram the passage of charter change through a ‘con ass’ despite the unconstitutionality and illegality of such move will only exacerbate the political instability and increase the unpopularity of Pres. Gloria Arroyo who is perceived as leading the ‘final push’ in tandem with Speaker de Venecia. The pent-up anger of the people will only increase the protest currently being planned during the ASEAN conference. <br /><br /> The ‘con ass’ scenario, whether or not it is approved in the subsequent plebiscite will result in the cancellation of the 2007 elections. The constitutional crisis that looms because of the blatantly unconstitutional attempts to short-circuit the process of amending the Constitution is imminent, unless ‘con ass’ is successfully shelved or defeated. <br /><br /><br />Reference Person Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<br />Date: December 4, 2006codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1164372682484078992006-11-23T11:49:00.000+08:002006-11-24T20:51:22.980+08:00SIGAW’S “PEOPLES’ INITIATIVE” IS CONSTITUTIONALLY, LEGALLY AND POLITICALLY DEAD: Charter Change Advocates must now abandon moves for charter changeCODAL supports the Supreme Court decision dismissing with finality the Sigaw ng Bayan petition for a “peoples initiative” to change the Constitution. The rules of court prohibit a second motion for reconsideration and we ask the Solicitor General and the other parties to abide by the rule and put the issue to rest. <br /><br /> The peoples’ initiative of Sigaw ng Bayan is legally, constitutionally and politically dead and can no longer be revived for the following reasons: <br /><br />(i) Sigaw’s proposal for a shift to Unicameral-Parliamentary system was deemed a revision and can no longer be used in any future initiative as it will be dismissed for violating the constitutional restriction limiting initiatives to mere amendments. The opinions of some legal quarters that this issue has not been fully resolved by the Court, falls on its face upon reading the express declaration in Lambino vs. Comelec, to wit: <br /><br />“ A change in the structure of government is a revision of the Constitution as when three great co-equal branches of government in the present Constitution are reduced into two. This alters the separation of powers in the Constitution. A shift from the present Bicameral-Presidential system to a Unicameral-Parliamentary system is a revision of the Constitution. Merging the legislative and executive branches is a radical change in the structure of government” (page 37 of the Majority Decision)<br /><br />(ii) Any similar initiative cannot be entertained by the COMELEC in the absence of an enabling law as required by Article XVII, Section 2 of the Constitution. It is incorrect to construe the Court’s decision as having abandoned Santiago vs. Comelec when it said in passing that ten justices reiterate their position that RA 6735 is adequate law, for the following reasons :<br /><br />(a) The main issue tackled by the Court in the Petition and the Motion for Reconsideration was whether the Sigaw initiative violated the Constitution, and not whether RA 6735 was adequate. The Supreme Court could not rule on a matter that was not the issue before it, particularly if it pertains to the validity of a certain law. Philippine jurisprudence dictates that the Supreme Court should avoid ruling on the validity of a law unless such is inherently necessary to resolve an issue pending before it. Ruling on the validity of RA 6735 was not necessary in resolving the Sigaw petition. <br /><br /><br />(b) The Supreme Court did not revisit Santiago vs Comelec and could therefore not abandon a case it did not review. The Supreme Court categorically stated in Lambino vs. Comelec that : <br /><br />“ The Lambino Group miserably failed to comply with the basic requirements of the Constitution. Thus, there is even no need to revisit Santiago, as the present petition warrants dismissal based alone on the Lambino Group’s failure to comply with the basic requirements of the Constitution. For following the Court’s ruling in Santiago, no grave abuse of discretion is attributable to the COMELEC.” (page 11, Decision)<br /><br />It is incorrect to say, therefore, that the Santiago ruling has been reversed. <br /><br />(c) The Decision merely stated “as a fact” that ten justices reiterate their position that the law was valid. Such statement by the Court was a mere obiter, an aside that does not create constitutional rights or have legal effects. The validity of a law cannot be attacked collaterally considering that the Philippine legal system abides by the stare decisis rule on following precedents. Furthermore, there is a permanent injunction in Santiago which ‘prohibits the Comelec from entertaining any petition for a peoples’ initiative unless an initiative’s law is passed’. No law has been passed and the injunction has not been expressly lifted. <br /><br /> The Court must categorically express the validity of RA 6735, explain why it is reversing Santiago vs. Comelec, and a clearly lift the permanent injunction against the COMELEC. This was not the case in the decision dispensing Sigaws motion for reconsideration. The validity (or invalidity) of any law and the lifting of an injunction cannot be implied, otherwise COMELEC will be left to construe whether the injunction still stands. Article VIII, Sec. 14 of the Constitution declares that :<br /><br />Sec. 14. No decision shall be rendered by any court without expressing therein clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which it is based.<br /><br /> Construing the decision to mean the revival of RA 6735 is to rob those opposing Sigaw’s petition the opportunity to argue clearly why RA 6735 is invalid since that was not the issue tackled in the main petition and in the oral arguments. The Supreme Court merely asked the parties to discuss whether the Court should revisit Santiago, and Oppositors argued that it should not. After winning the issue (since the Court decided not to revisit Santiago), it would be unjust if such decision were reversed in the motion for reconsideration without the oppositors being apprised and allowed any opportunity to comment. <br /><br /> CODAL reiterates its position that it is not against a peoples’ initiative to amend the Constitution. However, in the absence of any clear law that regulates such an initiative, that mechanism may be used by politicians and other vested interest for their benefit and not for the people. A clear law that prohibits such abuse is necessary before the same could be exercised. <br /><br /> CODAL also asks members of Congress to avoid another major defeat before the Supreme Court by abandoning its move to force through a “constituent assembly” without the Senate. The unconstitutionality of ‘Con Ass’ is more patent that Sigaw’s initiative considering that the Constitution expressly declares the Philippine Congress ‘bicameral’, and requires all laws to be approved by both Houses of Congress. If changing names of streets require the approval of both Houses, then changing the Constitution requires no less. Since the current moves for charter change do not benefit the people, they will not get the support of the people, including the legal community, and all these moves are, therefore, doomed to fail in the end. <br /><br />Reference Person : Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<br />Date : November 23, 2006codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1162202305096667022006-10-30T13:57:00.000+08:002006-10-30T17:58:25.340+08:00CODAL HAILS SUPREME COURT DECISION ON SIGAW PETITION: URGES ARROYO CABINET TO REFRAIN FROM INTERVENING IN THE JUDICIARYCODAL hails the Supreme Court decision dismissing the Sigaw ng Bayan petition for a peoples initiative. We commend the eight Supreme Court justices for asserting their independence despite the open and public pressure applied on the tribunal. We urge members of the Arroyo cabinet to refrain from exerting pressure on the justices through public pronouncements that tend to threaten or discredit the Supreme Court decision. We demand that Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s appointment of a new justice to replace Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban should be based on integrity, independence and legal capabilities rather than on his or her position on charter change. We demand that whoever is appointed should inhibit himself from issues related to charter change to erase doubts on the integrity of the appointment and the Court’s final decision on the issue. <br /><br />Intervention and Pressure<br /><br /> CODAL is seriously concerned by the pronouncements of public officials pressuring or discrediting the Supreme Court considering that, unlike private individuals, these public officials have the resources and influence to pressure the Supreme Court particularly in the appointment of justices. Sec. Raul Gonzalez is possibly the only Justice Secretary ever who publicly discredited the very justice system he administers by declaring that the Court’s decision was ‘railroaded or rushed’ for the personal interest of the justices implying that justice and due process were not served by the decision. We ask Pres. Arroyo to fire Sec. Gonzalez for his shameless intervention on the issue thereby compromising even his position as Justice Secretary. Sec. Gonzalez, who will be appointed to the Interim Parliament under the Sigaw proposed Constitution, should refrain from attacking the decision, including his colleague Sec. Avelino Cruz, since his statements will be self serving considering that he stands to personally gain under the new Constitution as a new member of the Interim Parliament and the resulting Constituent Assembly. CODAL which plans to have public officials investigated and prosecuted for the misuse of public funds on the ostensibly private endeavor called the “peoples initiative” cannot now expect impartial investigation and prosecution by the Department of Justice of those found to have misappropriated public funds because the Justice Secretary has once again prejudged the case. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> The Supreme Court decision was legally sound and based on constitutional issues, and not on mere issues of fact as Sigaw wishes to portray. The initiative petition was a revision in violation of Art. VII, Section 2 of the Constitution. The signatories did not sign the petition itself but mere signature sheets as admitted by Sigaw, proof that Sigaw failed to show that the people read or were aware of the contents of the petition. Since this fact was admitted by Sigaw, there was no factual issue that needs to be investigated or ‘tried’ by the Supreme Court. It is an entrench legal principle that the one who alleges has the burden of proving the allegation. Since Sigaw failed to prove that the petition was read by the signatories, then it is imperative on the Court to dismiss the petition. Many of the signatories for example were not aware that members of the Arroyo Cabinet, such as Sec. Raul Gonzalez, will become members of a powerful ‘Interim Parliament’ who will again amend the Constitution and decide when to hold the next election and when their terms of office will end. The decision saved the nation from the dangers of being ruled by an amorphous Interim Parliament under a more powerful Pres. Arroyo who are both given the ‘constitutional authority’ to perpetuate themselves in power beyond 2010 as outlined in the Sigaw proposed Constitution. <br /><br /><br />Inhibition<br /><br /> CODAL demands that the new justice to be appointed by Pres. Arroyo inhibit from voting on the Sigaw petition and other issues related to charter change to ensure credibility of the decision and avoid a constitutional crisis that will ensue should the Court’s decision be tainted with partiality. In fact, it is imperative on the new justice to recuse himself from deciding the Sigaw petition under Article VIII, Section 4 (2) which states that :<br /><br />Sec. 4(2) All cases involving the constitutionality of a x x x law x x x and all other cases which under the Rules of Court are required to be heard en banc, including those involving the constitutionality, application, or operation of presidential decrees, orders x x x and other regulations shall be decided with the concurrence of a majority of the Members who ACTUALLY TOOK PART IN THE DELIBERATIONS ON THE ISSUES IN THE CASE AND VOTED THEREON. “<br /><br /> Since the new justice did not participate in the deliberation of the Sigaw petition, said justice cannot vote on that issue, as this is prohibited not only by the principles of delicadeza but also by an express provision of the Constitution. It is foolhardy therefore for charter change supporters to pin their hopes on the new appointee. <br /><br /><br /><br />Reference Person : Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares—Spokesperson<br /><br />Date : October 30, 2006codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1161945909806813882006-10-25T13:43:00.000+08:002006-10-27T18:45:10.490+08:00PRESSURE ON THE SUPREME COURT MAY COMPROMISE CREDIBILITY OF ITS DECISION ON THE PEOPLES INITIATIVE PETITION<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL condemns the pressure being applied to the Supreme Court,<span style=""> </span>personally conducted and openly admitted by pro charter change advocates like Pres. Gloria Arroyo and Speaker Jose de Venecia.<span style=""> </span>The people may express their opinion publicly in the exercise of their constitutional right to expression on such an important issue.<span style=""> </span>However, personally lobbying Justices of the Supreme Court to decide in favor of the peoples initiative in exchange for promised rewards, is no longer an exercise of a constitutional right, but an unlawful attempt at bribery and a contemptuous attack on the independence of the Court particularly if the lobbying is done by those who have the power or influence to affect the appointment of members of the Court and its Chief Justice.<span style=""> </span>We are aghast that a member of the Bar in the person of the Justice Secretary while rebuking the Chief Justice, the person being “pressured”, found nothing wrong with the acts of those who pressure. We urge those who seek to pressure the Supreme Court in exchange for promised rewards to desist from personally and directly lobbying members of the Court because such influence peddling is legally, constitutionally and morally wrong. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style=""> </span>We ask members of the Supreme Court to assert their independence by shunning the intense pressure and deciding on the basis of what their conscience dictates as right under the law and the Constitution.<span style=""> </span>The<span style=""> </span>charter change issue is an important issue that merits an engaged public debate among the people who are free to express their opinion for or against charter change.<span style=""> </span>While the Court should recognize the need for such a public expression of advocacy, it should not allow the kind of pressure openly admitted and justified by pro charter change advocates. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style=""> </span>We believe that current charter change is for the benefit of<span style=""> </span>everyone except the Filipino people. The Sigaw ng Bayan instigated ‘peoples initiative’ is also unconstitutional because, <i style="">inter alia</i>,<span style=""> </span>(i) the proposed changes revises the Constitution, and is therefore constitutionally prohibited<span style=""> </span>(ii) there is no enabling law as required by the Constitution and (iii) and it did not get the 3% and 12%<span style=""> </span>signatures of the registered voters.<span style=""> </span>We find the intense lobbying by local officials self serving since they will benefit from the ‘no election’ scenario under the new Constitution.<span style=""> </span>Furthermore, we find it dangerous that the proposed Constitution provides for the creation of an interim parliament that, because it is empowered to further amend the Constitution, may not call for an election for years and perpetuate itself for a long time similar to Pres. Marcos’ interim government during martial law.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style=""> </span>We express our dismay that due to the pressure and lobbying admitted by the Chief Justice and Speaker de Venecia, the Court’s decision on the initiative case is inextricably compromised. We urge members of the legal profession to rally against this insidious attempt to change the Constitution by violating it.<span style=""> </span>We ask the Filipino people, to<span style=""> </span>publicly give the proposed charter change their resounding disapproval<span style=""> </span>and publicly disown the ‘initiative’ that was never ours in the first place.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;">Reference Person <span style=""> </span>: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.5in; text-align: justify;">Date<span style=""> </span>:<span style=""> </span>October 25, 2006</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1160389879529189702006-10-06T10:00:00.000+08:002006-10-09T18:35:04.203+08:00CODAL POSITION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"> CODAL urges the Senate to remove Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile as chairman of the Human Rights Committee for his anti-human rights position by ramming the Anti- Terrorism Bill in the Senate and for his lack of respect for the rights of other by threatening to slap another senator who objects to his sponsored bill. CODAL finds it incomprehensible why majority of the Senators voted Sen. Enrile to the Committee when he is sponsoring a bill considered anathema to civil liberties by the human rights community. Sen. Enrile, who helped implement martial law, cannot head a committee that will help implement the compensation of martial law victims considering that he has consistently refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing during martial law. He has publicly announced that he is remorseless for his role as martial law Defense Secretary and it is fair for the Senate to withdraw their votes for his chairmanship of the Human Rights Committee. Some CODAL lawyers were imprisoned during martial law under the direct orders of then Sec. Enrile. <u1:p></u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size:11;">Abolition of the Melo Commission<u1:p></u1:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"> CODAL also seriously urges Pres. Gloria Arroyo to abolish the Melo Commission pending the passage of an enabling law implementing her executive order creating a fact finding body on the political killings. Such law will define the process for selecting the members, the procedure and the powers of the body. CODAL notes that the although the Davide Commission was created through AO 146, an administrative order, Pres. Corazon Aquino waited for Congress to pass a law before constituting the Commission. Congress passed Republic Act 6832 which expressly granted the Davide Commission contempt powers and the power to grant immunity. <u1:p></u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"> Without the appropriate procedures that will generate credibility for a fact finding body, contempt powers that will ensure production of witnesses and evidence and the power to grant immunity, the Melo Commission is nothing but a ‘gatherer’ of evidence as Sec. Eduardo Ermita himself called the still born Truth Commission on electoral fraud. Malacanang previously proposed the creation of a truth commission to look into the Garcillano scandal through an administrative order “that will be patterned after the Davide Commission ….which was reinforced by a legislation passed by Congress. CODAL wishes to remind Malacanang that Sec. Ermita once said that ‘Without legislation, its (the fact finding body) just a gathering of facts.”<u1:p></u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"><u1:p> </u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11;"> CODAL also condemns the killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento and reiterates its call for Pres. Gloria Arroyo to act swiftly to stop the killings of activists. Bishop Ramento was an outspoken critic of Pres. Arroyo and has been an active member of the Presidium of the Citizens Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA). He voted to find Pres. Arroyo culpable for graft and corruption, electoral fraud and human rights violations in the CCTA verdict. CODAL urges the police not to hastily conclude that the killing was an ordinary case of robbery as it may mislead investigators and cause the real criminals to escape investigation. <u1:p></u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Reference Person: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares (October 6, 2006)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1159935264223917232006-10-02T12:08:00.000+08:002006-10-04T12:22:02.093+08:00LAWYERS TO INSPECT SIGAW DOCUMENTS IN COMELEC: SUPREME COURT ORDERS COMELEC TO OPEN BOXES<p class="MsoNormal" style="">CODAL is glad that the Supreme Court ordered the Comelec during the hearing on Oral Arguments to allow lawyers of oppositors to the peoples initiative, the opportunity to look into the documents submitted by SIGAW including the signature sheets and the certification by different COMELEC officials. The Supreme Court ordered the lawyers to submit their Memorandum of Arguments on or before October 11 together with any evidence on fraud or failure to achieve the 3% requirement in a particular district. Among the questioned districts pertain to <st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on">Davao</st1:city></st1:city></st1:city>, South Cotabato, <st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on">Makati</st1:city></st1:city></st1:city>, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Roxas</st1:placename></st1:place></st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:place></st1:placename></st1:place> and other districts in the Visayas. <u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u3:p></u3:p>On September 29 Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares together with Atty. Aquilino Pimentel III sent a letter to Comelec lawyer Dir. Alioden Dalaig, informing him of the dates when lawyers will go over the Sigaw documents. The date agreed with Comelec is October 4, 5, 6 and possibly October 7 or 9 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. <u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u3:p></u3:p>The inspection will focus on the certifications issued by Comelec officers regarding their assertion that the 3% requirement was achieved in their respective municipalities, cities or provinces. Comelec officials who issued certifications without genuinely verifying the signatures submitted will be reported to the Supreme Court. The lawyers will also attempt to look into the signatures sheets although it cannot focus on the same due to lack of time. The Supreme Court is not a trier of facts and could not therefore tackle the voluminous documents showing massive fraud. <u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u3:p></u3:p>CODAL argues that in the absence of an enabling law and rules and the failure of Comelec to notify the oppositors, it was impossible for oppositors to have opposed the verification process in the districts. The 5 day period to inspect these documents is not sufficient to cover all districts.<u3:p> </u3:p><u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u3:p></u3:p><b><span style="font-size:13;">Dismissing the Sigaw Petition a certainty</span></b> <u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">CODAL is certain that the Supreme Court will dismiss the petition filed by Atty.Raul Lambino asking the Court to declare that the Comelec gravely “abused its discretion’ when it dismissed the Sigaw petition. <u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u3:p></u3:p>Firstly, Comelec could not have abused its ‘discretion’ when it merely implemented the Supreme Court injunction in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santiago</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city></st1:city></st1:place> vs. Comelec. The Sigaw petition will definitely be dismissed since following a Supreme Court order can never be interpreted as abuse.<u2:p></u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u3:p></u3:p>Secondly, the petition is for a ‘revision’ which the Constitution does not allow the exercise of under a peoples initiative. Sol. Gen. Eduardo Nachura admitted during the Oral Arguments that a peoples initiative cannot undertake a revision of the Constitution. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Thirdly, there are other fatal defects in the Petition notably:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">a.<span style="font-size:7;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>issues of fraud or the failure to get the signatures of 3% of registered voters in all legislative districts. The case of South Cotabato and General <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santos</st1:place></st1:city></st1:city></st1:place> raised in the petition filed by former congresswoman Lualhati Antonino, was mentioned during the oral arguments as one of the areas which must be looked into the opposition lawyers. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">b.<span style="font-size:7;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>Support given by local officials in the initiative including the funding of Sigaw. CODAL finds impossible and untenable the statement by Sigaw during the hearing that their total budget is a mere P3 M when the 600,000 signature sheets alone would have cause P 2 M. SIGAW mustalso explain the funding for their almost daily newspaper and TV ads which could now amount to more than P200 M.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">c.<span style="font-size:7;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>The admission by Sigaw during the hearing that they only reproduced 100,000 copies of the petition shows that the petition could not have been attached to many of the 600,000 signature sheets signed by voters. CODAL believes that only this admission is fatal to the petition since signature by voters in signatures shets without the attached petition is void.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">d.<span style="font-size:7;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>The admission by Sigaw, during the interpellation of Justice Quisumbing, that the signatories did not know that the proposed charter change allows for no election in 2007 is also fatal since this constitutes misrepresentation by the petitioners. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""> CODAL is confident that the petition for a peoples initiative is doomed to die a natural death due to its fatal flaws even if the Court will reverse <st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on">Santiago</st1:city></st1:city> and declare the adequacy of RA 6735, the initiatives law found inadequate in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santiago</st1:place></st1:city></st1:city></st1:place>. The additional arguments of fraud and misrepresentation are only extra nails in the coffin of Sigaw. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""> Lawyers will make an initial viewing of the Sigaw documents before Dir. Dalaig on October 4. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><u2:p> </u2:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Reference Person : Atty. Neri Colmenares<u2:p></u2:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Date : October 2, 2006<u2:p></u2:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u2:p> </u2:p><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <u2:p></u2:p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u3:p></u3:p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1159165062995548312006-09-23T13:13:00.000+08:002006-09-25T14:21:08.876+08:00PERSONS WITHOUT HUMAN RIGHTS BACKGROUND HEAD HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES IN THE ARROYO GOVERNMENT: A MEDIA PLAN TO MUDDLE ISSUES AND EXONERATE AFP<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Pro-Arroyo supporters handling human rights issues<u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>CODAL is seriously concerned that people without any track record for human rights advocacy, such as Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Justice Melo and Rep. Bienvinido Abante, are heading human rights bodies tasked with investigating human rights violations of Arroyo government. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p><b>Senate should withdraw votes for Sen. Enrile <u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>CODAL condemns the shameless lack of remorse and sensitivity of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile for his role as the implementor of martial law. He misses the point when he justified his role by using the ‘constitutionality’ of martial law, since the issue is not merely whether Pres. Ferdinand Marcos had the power to declare martial law but whether he had the power to close Congress, to conduct political killings, illegally arrest and detain the opposition and enrich his family through graft and corruption. Surely, many of the acts Hitler may have constitutional basis in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:country-region></st1:place>, but they were crimes against humanity under international law just the same. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>CODAL is concerned that an unrepentant martial law executor, without any background or sympathy to human rights, is currently the head of the Senate Human Rights Committee. It is surprising and unacceptable why Sen. Enrile got the vote of the Senate majority to chair a Committee which will deal with issues on political killings, compensation of martial law victims and other human rights concerns. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>Due to Sen. Enrile’s lack of understanding of human rights and lack of remorse for his role during martial law, CODAL calls on members of the Senate to withdraw their votes for Sen. Enrile, oust him from his current position and vote for a senator with knowledge of human rights to chair the Senate Committee on Human Rights. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p><b>Muddling the issue<u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>CODAL finds abhorrent the attempt of Pres. Arroyo’s administration at pointing to the New People’s Army as responsible for the murder of more than 700 people, considering that the relatives of the victims point to the military as perpetrators while not one of these relatives ever mentioned the NPA as their suspects. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Experienced lawyers know that relatives of the victims will not point to the much feared military if they suspect the NPA. CODAL confidently asserts that Gen. Hermogenes Esperon does not really have any evidence, admissible in court, to prove his claims before the Melo Commission except self serving ‘captured documents’ that no one can verify or testimonies of witnesses whose credibility is not even closely comparable to those of the victim-survivors or their relatives. Gen. Esperon was merely playing a media counter offensive to diffuse criticism from Pres. Arroyo and the AFP.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p><b>MELO Commission’s lack of human rights sensitivities <u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>CODAL is seriously concerned that the Melo Commission is contributing to the military’s media counter offensive when it allowed the AFP to explain why they are not guilty of the political killings rather than asking the victims what actually happened. Any serious, competent and genuine fact finding body or court for that matter must first establish the facts of the incident before interviewing the suspects. The prosecutor must first lay the basis of the case before the accused or the respondent is allowed to present his or her defense. This major mistake of the Melo Commission is a serious blow to its already tattered credibility, from which the Commission may not be able to recover. From the conduct and composition of the Melo Commission, it is no longer surprising to expect that it will come out with a decision declaring that there is no evidence proving government involvement in the killings, using the killing of journalists as a basis. It may sacrifice an individual soldier or two as perpetrators but will point to the NPAs and criminal syndicates as the main perpetrators of the killings. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>The sinister inclusion of the Committee on Defense and the Public Order Committee headed by former military officers in the House of Representatives’ investigation of the political killings is one more proof of the malicious effort by government to derail the ongoing investigation and discourage witnesses from testifying. Rep. Abante, who chairs the human rights committee, shows his lack of human rights advocacy and sensitivity by inviting former military officers to join in his committee’s investigation. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p><b>Pattern of Deception <u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>All these point to the fact that Pres. Arroyo and the military hopes to distract international concern by muddling the issue using supposed killings of the NPAs as a diversion. Such an argument however, is not only irrelevant to the issue of political killings but is an admission on the part of the military of their involvement in the current killings using the analogous principle of ‘negative pregnant’ under the rules of court. It is negative pregnant because instead of proving their innocence of the recent killings, the military argues that the NPAs committed similar killings more than 16 years ago. The rules of evidence require specific denial of a charge and the presentation of evidence to prove such denial rather than using generalities and pointing to the perpetrators of another incident not related to the issue at hand. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p>CODAL expresses its abhorrence over the contribution of the Senate, the Melo Commission and the House of Representatives Human Rights Committee in this blatant cover up. CODAL asks the victims and the human rights groups to expose this grand design of the AFP and the Arroyo government, so that the search for truth and the real perpetrators of the political killings will not be derailed. CODAL urges human rights groups and concerned governments worldwide to insist that the Melo Commission and congressional human rights committees focus their investigation on the killing of the 752 victims so that the issue of current political killings will be substantially resolved and the death squads stopped from committing more assassinations and extra judicial killings. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u1:p></u1:p><b>Reference Person : Atty. Neri Colmenares<u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Date : September 23, 2006<u1:p></u1:p></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1158911257020729692006-09-21T11:00:00.000+08:002006-09-22T15:47:37.516+08:00POLITICAL KILLINGS AND CHARTER CHANGE: A RETURN TO MARTIAL LAW (September 21 Statement)Imagine a country attended by thousands of political killings, involuntary disappearances, illegal arrests and harassments, where activist organizations and the media are threatened daily for exposing the truth, where electoral fraud, misuse of public funds, graft and corruption are rampant, where impunity and a complete disregard for the judiciary and the legislature exists, where arrogant military officers hold sway over civilian institutions and a self-serving Constitution is being rammed down the throats of the people by a repressive president. The scenes above do not only refer to the ‘new society’ under Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law, but to the ‘strong republic’ under Pres. Gloria Arroyo. Despite the 34 year difference between the two, the similarity is striking.<br /><br />Proposed Constitution: Absolute Martial Law Powers to the President<br /><br /> CODAL expresses strong condemnation of the move to grant Pres. Gloria Arroyo absolute martial law powers through charter change, especially since Pres. Arroyo’s administration has been charged with gross human rights violations and intolerance with dissent since it came to power in 2001.<br /><br /> Thirty-fours years ago today, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on the ground of ‘imminent danger’ of rebellion. To prevent the president from using such amorphous ground again, the 1987 Constitution subsequently limited the grounds to declare martial law to rebellion and invasion. CODAL finds it abhorrent that the proposed Constitution seeks to reinstate ‘ imminent danger’ of rebellion as a ground to declare martial law, considering the penchant of Pres. Arroyo to consider all forms of criticism against her as destabilization and therefore a threat to national security. <br /><br /> Additionally, while Martial Law has a 60-day life span under the current Constitution subject to an extension only upon approval of Congress, the proposed charter deleted such an important legislative checks and balance mechanism. Furthermore, the power of the Supreme Court to look into the factual basis of a martial law declaration has also been deleted in the proposed Constitution, a return to the martial law experience where the Supreme Court remained powerless to check the abuses of Pres. Marcos. The proposed Constitution, by granting Pres. Arroyo absolute martial law powers unrestricted by legislative and judicial intervention, is not only a throwback to the Marcos martial law Constitution but also another serious threat to the rights and freedoms of the Filipino people.<br /><br />The Philippines: A Garrison State with the revival of the Marcos Constitution<br /><br /> Despite the overthrow of the Marcos Regime in 1986, the specter of Martial Law continues to haunt the people under the Arroyo regime. With the rampant political killings, growing number of disappearances and escalating human rights violations, complemented by an abuse of power through Presidential Proclamation 1017, CPR and Executive Order 464, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has placed the whole nation virtually under military rule which she seeks to further institutionalize under a new Constitution. <br /><br /> Considering the escalating human rights abuses by the government forces and the military’s lack of respect to civilian institutions, the new Constitution will only formalize martial rule in the country and transform it into a garrison state effectively controlled by the Pres. Arroyo and her military supporters.<br /><br /> CODAL opposes the current move to change the Constitution because its MOTIVATION is not for the benefit of the people but the self-serving interest of Pres. Arroyo and public officials who want to stay in power until 2010 without the mandate of an election, because its CONTENT is anti-people as it formally opens up private lands, public utilities and our natural resources to foreign control and ownership and because the PROCESS employed is not consultative nor participatory as it is being rammed on the throats of the Filipino people though deceit, threats and bribery.<br /><br />Solicitor General Must Not Participate in Oral Arguments<br /><br /> CODAL is further seriously concerned with the pronouncement of Solicitor General Eduardo Nachura that there is an adequate law to implement the people’s initiative of Sigaw ng Bayan. This turn-around by Solgen. Nachura is surprising since he once filed two bills proposing an initiative law when he was a congressman during the 11th and 12th Congress thereby recognizing the lack of an enabling law for a peoples initiative. CODAL is afraid that the declaration of the counsel for the Respondent favoring that of Petitioner Sigaw will threaten the credibility of the scheduled oral arguments before the Supreme Court. CODAL asks Solgen Nachura not to represent the respondent in this case and, like former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, inhibit himself from a representing a case he does not agree with.<br /><br />Members of the Legal Profession must take an active stand<br /><br /> The most prominent place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in the greatest issues in life.<br /><br /> On the 34th commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law, CODAL calls on lawyers and law students to join the nation in condemning political and civil repression, denouncing human rights violations, opposing charter change in all its forms under the current Arroyo administration, and preempt the institutionalization of a dictatorship. <br /><br />Uphold Civil Liberties and Human Rights! STOP THE KILLINGS! Oppose CHA-CHA!<br /><br />Reference : Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares—Spokesperson<br />Date : 21 September 2006codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1157348555360043882006-08-30T13:41:00.000+08:002006-09-04T13:42:35.616+08:00COMELEC DELIBERATION ON LAMBINO PETITION MUST BE PUBLIC: Oppositors must be Allowed to Prove Allegations of Fraud<span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL calls on the Commission on Election to dismiss the Lambino Petition because of a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the Comelec from entertaining such petition.<span style=""> </span>The Commission cannot, and should not, confirm the authenticity of the supposed millions of signatures as this is tantamount to taking cognizance of the petition, a violation of the Supreme Court injunction. <span style=""> </span>Should the Comelec persist to include in its decision a certification that the signatures are authentic and Sigaw has fulfilled the 12%-3% requirements, CODAL demands that the Comelec allow Oppositors to present evidence of fraud in the signature gathering process.<span style=""> </span>CODAL further urges the Comelec to make all its deliberations on the Petition public to ensure transparency in the process considering that the Comelec is perceived to favor charter change proponents. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Chairman Benjamin Abalos and Sigaw have been asking Oppositors to go to the Supreme Court to question the initiative.<span style=""> </span>Since no one went to the Supreme Court, CODAL believes that SIGAW’s gameplan is to have its petition dismissed by the COMELEC so it can immediately go to the Supreme Court expecting a favorable decision.<span style=""> </span>Comelec’s dismissal of the Petition is actually expected since this is the fastest means to have the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santiago</st1:place></st1:City> ruling reversed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">SIGAW<span style=""> </span>Admissions in its Petition: Fatal to People’s Initiative<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL raised new grounds when it filed its opposition yesterday, notably: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">I.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The Petition should have been filed by the Signatories as Petitioners.<span style=""> </span>Since only Atty. Raul Lambino and Erico Aumentado signed as Petitioners, the Petition is fatally defective and should be dismissed. <span style=""> </span>The 1987 Constitution states in Art. XVII, Sec. 2 that:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Sec. 2. Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be <b style="">DIRECTLY proposed by the people</b> through initiative, UPON A PETITION <b style=""><u>OF</u></b> AT LEAST TWELVE PER CENTUM OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein. (underscoring supplied)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Clearly, what should have been filed is a Petition of the signatories representing 12% of the registered voters.<span style=""> </span>SIGAW should have drafted the Petition months ago and asked the registered voters to sign it as Petitioners.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Since only two people signed the petition it does not fulfill this constitutional requirement. <span style=""> </span>Also fatal to the Lambino Petition<span style=""> </span>is his admission that the registered voters “<i style="">affixed their signatures to the signature sheets”</i> rather than the Petition itself. It is in fact impossible for the registered voters to have affixed their signature to the Petition since, as Atty. Lambino further admitted, the Petition is dated August 25, 2006 and is therefore deemed as having been only drafted on that date. There is no way, therefore, for the signatories to have seen the petition when they supposedly signed months ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>What Sigaw actually did the past few months was circulate Signature Sheets without showing to the voter-signatories the actual petition, which makes all the supposed millions of signatures void and completely useless. Even presuming that Sigaw attached to the Signature Sheets the draft Petition found in its website, the signatures are still void since the Petition they filed is no longer the same to their draft.<span style=""> </span>Atty. Lambino deleted from the Petition he filed, Par. C, Sec. 4 (3) of its draft petition declaring that “ Senators whose terms of office ends in 2010 shall be members of Parliament until noon of the thirtieth day of June 2010”.<span style=""> </span>Since the current petition is no longer exactly the same as the draft shown to the signatory during the signature drive, all the signatures are null and invalid. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Party-List System Abandoned <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL takes exception to claims that the Party-List system is intact under the proposed Constitution, since Atty. Lambino’s proposed amendment of Art. VI, Sec 2 states that:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black;">“Section 1. (1) The legislative and executive power shall be vested in a unicameral Parliament which shall be composed of as many members as may be provided by law, <b style="">to be apportioned among the provinces, representative districts, and cities</b> in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, with at least three hundred thousand inhabitants per district, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio. Each district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact and adjacent territory, and each province must have at least one member.</span></em><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>This new Parliament will be composed of representatives from districts, provinces and cities depending on the number of inhabitants and not from sectors or party list groups. Unlike the 1987 Constitution which expressly provides that Congress shall be composed of district representatives and the party list, this proposal has deleted that express provision. At most, the party list system may only be provided by law, not by the Constitution, and therefore subject to the whims of politicians acting as parliamentarians.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Impossibility in Impeaching Pres. Arroyo<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The Lambino proposal also increases from one-third to two-thirds the number of votes required to impeach the President, as shown in its proposed Transitory Provision: <em><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black;">Section 1. (1) The incumbent President and Vice-President shall serve until the expiration of their term at noon on the thirtieth day of June 2010 and shall continue to exercise their powers under the 1987 Constitution unless impeached by a vote of <b style="">two thirds of all the members of the interim parliament</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Considering that the Opposition failed to even muster the 1/3 votes in the recent impeachment proceeding, raising the threshold to 2/3 virtually protects Pres. Arroyo from any impeachment until 2010. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Public Hearing<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL reiterates its call for the COMELEC to hold its deliberation on the Lambino petition in public to ensure transparency if only to disabuse the public perception that it favors charter change. Holding its deliberations in secret will only enflame the issue further and cause further instability. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Reference Person<span style=""> </span>Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Date<span style=""> </span>August 30, 2006<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1157348652680277972006-08-30T13:32:00.000+08:002006-09-04T13:44:12.973+08:00Opposition to the Petition for a People’s Initiative<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">REPUBLIC OF THE <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">PHILIPPINES</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">MANILA</span></st1:place></st1:City><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoHeader" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoHeader" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">LIBERTIES (CODAL) <span style=""> </span>and <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">ATTY. FLORISA<span style=""> </span>ALMODIEL <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Oppositors <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoHeader" style="margin-left: 81pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">versus<span style=""> </span>- <span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Case No. EM (LD) 2006-001</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoHeader" style="margin-left: 63pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">RAUL L. LAMBINO and ERICO B. AUMENTADO,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Petitioners<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">x---------------------------------------------------------------x<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-family:"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1</span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-family:"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; font-variant: small-caps;">Opposition to the Petition for a People’s Initiative<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>OPPOSITORS, by counsel, respectfully state:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2> <h3><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Prefatory Statement<o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>From a Media Report: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. yesterday challenged groups opposed to the verification of millions of signature in support of a shift to a parliamentary form of government to get an injunction from the Supreme Court if they believed that the verification process violated the high tribunal’s earlier ruling.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“‘Let us stop arguing. They should go to the Supreme Court and stop us,’ Abalos said in a phone interview yesterday.”<a style="" href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>No one went to the Supreme Court.<span style=""> </span>So, Sigaw had to use the Comelec to go up to the Supreme Court—filing a Petition with the Comelec in the hope that the Comelec will immediately dismiss the petition at least before September 14. You see, Sigaw expects a favorable decision from the Supreme Court.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>But that is not all.<span style=""> </span>SIGAW hopes that the Comelec will not only decide to dismiss the Petition but will also take cognizance of the Petition, in violation of the injunction of course, and look into the ‘authenticity’ of the signatures and the regularity of the certifications and declare that :<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“ We find the signatures authentic as per certification of our Election Officers, and that Petitioners have fulfilled the constitutional requirement of garnering 12 % of the total number of registered voters represented by at least 3% in each legislative district.<span style=""> </span>However, since there is an injunction from the Supreme Court, we have to DISMISS the Petition.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Sigaw wants the Comelec to use the “presumption of regularity” principle on the certifications issued by local Comelec personnel<span style=""> </span>and therefore merely NOTE all objections as to the authenticity of the signatures, similar to what transpired in the 2004 presidential elections.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Armed with a watertight Comelec decision which declared the signatures in order even if no objection to the same was allowed, SIGAW now expects the Supreme Court to reverse Santiago, and, since the COMELEC has verified the signatures, all that the Supreme Court has to do is to remand the case to COMELEC and order it to set the plebiscite, WITHOUT ENTERTAINING ANY OBJECTIONS RELATIVE TO FRAUD, which SIGAW hopes will take place in January 2007 at most. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>But SIGAW made a fatal mistake. One of the many actually. It filed the petition with only two petitioners, admitted that the draft petition was crafted only on August 25, 2006, and what the alleged ‘millions’ of signatories signed was actually not the Petition but ‘signature sheets’. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Will the Supreme Court and the Comelec follow the script? Many believe Sigaw will be in for a big surprise.<span style=""> </span>The third round of the Chacha Battle may still end in a resounding defeat for those who pine for “no election” in 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; font-variant: small-caps;">The Parties</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h1><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Petitioners<o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>1.<span style=""> </span>Petitioners Raul L. Lambino and Erico B. Aumentado are Filipino citizens, of legal age, registered voters, and with office addresses at Autoland Building, 1616 Quezon Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, and at Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, Unit 2803 Summit Tower, 530 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <h1><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Oppositors <o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Oppositors are The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL), an organization of civil libertarian lawyers, law students and paralegals who are Filipinos, of legal age, and with office address at # 1 Matatag cor. Maaralin Streets, Central District, Quezon City and ATTY. FLORISA ALMODIEL, a member of CODAL, Filipino, of legal age, a registered voter and with office address at # 1 Matatag cor. Maaralin Streets, Central District, Quezon City. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; font-variant: small-caps;">Statement of Facts</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>1.<span style=""> </span>The Supreme Court on 19 March 1997, the Supreme Court, in the case of <i>Santiago v. COMELEC, </i>declared that Republic Act No. 6735 was inadequate to cover the system of initiative on amendments to the Constitution and failed to provide sufficient standards for subordinate legislation. The Supreme Court further declared unconstitutional COMELEC Resolution No. 2300 insofar as it prescribes rules and regulations on the conduct of initiative or amendments to the Constitution, and permanently enjoined this Honorable Commission from “entertaining or taking cognizance of any petition for initiative on amendments on the Constitution until a sufficient law shall have been validly enacted to provide for the implementation of the system” of people’s initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">2.<span style=""> </span>On 25 August 2006, Petitioners filed herein Petition with this Honorable Commission, invoking their “constitutional right to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution by way of people’s initiative.” Petitioners allege that the provisions of Republic Act No. 6735 are “sufficient enabling details for the people’s exercise” of the “power” of people’s initiative. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">3.<span style=""> </span>Petitioners claim in Paragraph 2 of their Petition that they are filing said Petition “<i style="">together with the registered voters who have affixed their signatures to the Signature Sheets”</i>.<span style=""> </span>The admission<span style=""> </span>by petitioners that the Petition was crafted only on 25 August 2006, and that the other registered voters<span style=""> </span>merely signed “signature sheets” must be seriously noted as these are FATAL to the Petition. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">4. <span style=""> </span>Petitioners are proposing the “amendment” of Articles VI and VII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, <i style="">inter alia</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(a)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The “amendment” of Sections 1-7 of Article VI of the Constitution to creating a unicameral parliament, not only composed of District Representatives but also by Provincial Representatives and City Representatives.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(b)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">It also amended the Constitution by deleting the constitutional provision establishing the Party List system as part of the legislature and merely reduced its existence a creature of law, if the new legislature so desires to maintain it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(c)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The “amendment” of Sections 1-7 of Article VI of the Constitution to extend the term of office of Members of Parliament from three (3) years to five (5) years, and to eliminate the restriction on the number of times such Members of Parliament can run for reelection; <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(d)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The “amendment” of Sections 1-4 of Article VII of the Constitution, to designate the President as the Head of State, with the executive power to be exercised by the Prime Minister who shall be elected by a majority of<span style=""> </span>all the Members of Parliament from among themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(e)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The inclusion of a new Article XVIII entitled “Transitory Provisions” to allegedly ensure “an orderly transition from the bicameral-Presidential to a unicameral-Parliamentary form of government. Such “Transitory Provisions” provide for:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(i)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The expiration of the terms of office of the incumbent President and Vice-President on 30 June 2010;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(ii)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The creation of an “interim Parliament” which shall be composed of the incumbent Vice-President, the incumbent members of the Senate and House of Representatives and incumbent members of the Cabinet who are heads of the executive departments, which shall continue until the members of the “regular Parliament” shall have been elected and shall have qualified;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(iii)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The designation of the incumbent Vice-President’s duties as convenor of the “interim Parliament” and presiding officer over its sessions for the election of the interim Prime Minister and until the Speaker shall been elected by a majority vote of all the members of the interim Parliament from among themselves;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(iv)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The designation of the incumbent President’s duty to nominate, from among the members of the interim Parliament, an interim Prime Minister, who shall be elected by a majority vote of the members thereof;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(v)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The designation of the interim Prime Minister’s duty to oversee the various ministries and perform such powers and responsibilities as may be delegated by the incumbent President;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(vi)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The assumption by the interim Prime Minister of the powers and responsibilities of the incumbent President in the event of death, permanent disability, resignation or removal from office of both the incumbent President and Vice-President;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(vii)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The Second<span style=""> </span>Charter Change through the convening of the interim Parliament within forty-five (45) days from ratification of the proposed Constitutional “amendments” to further propose another round of “amendments to, or revisions of, this Constitution consistent with the principles of local autonomy, decentralization, and a strong bureaucracy”;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(viii)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The conduct by the interim Parliament of an election of the members of Parliament, which shall be synchronized and held simultaneously with the election of all local government officials;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(ix)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The designation of the incumbent Vice-President’s duty, as member of Parliament, to immediately convene the Parliament and initially preside over its session for the purpose of electing the Prime Minister, who shall be elected by a majority vote of all the members of Parliament from among themselves; and <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 153pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(x)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The duty of the duly elected Prime Minister to continue and exercise and perform the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Interim Prime Minister until the expiration of the term of the incumbent President and Vice-President.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">5 <span style=""> </span>Petitioners are therefore requesting this Honorable Commission to find their Petition sufficient in form and in substance, and to submit the following proposition to the Filipino people by way of a plebiscite:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBlockText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">“Do you approve the amendment of Articles VI and VII of the 1987 Constitution, changing the form of government from the present bicameral-presidential to a unicameral-parliamentary system, and providing Article XVIII as transitory provisions for the orderly shift from one system to the other?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; font-variant: small-caps;">Arguments</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>I<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">THE INSTANT PETITION MUST BE DISMISSED AS IT DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT FOR A PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO BE VALID, IT MUST BE DIRECTLY PROPOSED BY THE PEOPLE THROUGH <b style=""><u>“A PETITION OF AT LEAST TWELVE PER CENTUM OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS</u></b>” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt 4.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt 4.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">II<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">THE PETITION MUST BE DISMISSED BECAUSE FATALLY DEFECTIVE AS TO FORM AND SUBSTANCE, HAVING <b style="">VIOLATED COMELEC’S PROCEDURAL RULES</b><span style=""> </span>AND FOR ITS FAILURE TO ACHIEVE THE 12% AND 3% REQUIREMENT DUE TO FRAUD AND OTHER VIOLATIONS OF ELECTION RULES<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">III<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">ASSUMING <i style="">ARGUENDO</i> THAT THE PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE CAN PROCEED, THE PETITION MUST BE DISMISSED AS IT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT ONLY ALLOWS A PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO UNDERTAKE AMENDMENTS AND NOT REVISION<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.25in 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">IV<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 13.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">THE COMMISSION ON ELECTION IS PROHIBITED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN <i style="">SANTIAGO V. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS</i>, 270 SCRA 106 (1997), FROM ENTERTAINING OR TAKING COGNIZANCE OF A PETITION FOR A PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; font-variant: small-caps;">Discussion</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 31.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">I<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 31.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">THE PETITION MUST BE DISMISSED AS IT DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT FOR A PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO BE VALID, IT MUST BE DIRECTLY PROPOSED BY THE PEOPLE THROUGH <b style=""><u>“A PETITION OF AT LEAST TWELVE PER CENTUM OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS</u></b>” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The Constitution provides in Art. XVII, Sec. 2 that :<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Sec. 2. Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative, UPON A PETITION <b style=""><u>OF</u></b> AT LEAST TWELVE PER CENTUM OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein. (underscoring supplied)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The Constitution is clear. The ‘twelve percent’ of the total number of registered voters referred to <span style=""> </span>must be the petitioners in a petition for a people’s initiative.<span style=""> </span>In this case, there are only two Petitioners—Mr. Lambino and Mr. Aumentado.<span style=""> </span>The Petition cannot, therefore, survive because the registered voters who compose the “twelve per centum” required<span style=""> </span>by the Constitution are not the Petitioners in the subject Petition. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Furthermore, the verification and certification against forum shopping were not signed by the registered voters who compose the required “Twelve Per Centum”. These registered<span style=""> </span>voters therefore do not attest that the Petition is true and correct of their own personal knowledge or based on authentic record.<span style=""> </span>Even if Mr. Lambino and Aumentado declare that no similar actions were filed in another tribunal, the ‘Twelve Per Centum” made no such certification.<span style=""> </span>All these are fatal to the Petition.<span style=""> </span>After all, it is possible that the ‘twelve per centum’ did not know some or all of the allegations in the Petition, especially the proposed ‘amendments’. <span style=""> </span>It must be noted that the verification required in a peoples initiative is not merely to see if the signatures “seem to appear” similar to that in the Voters Registry, but on whether the signatories actually understood the Petition including its proposed “amendments” and attest to the correctness of its contents, including the proposed “amendments”. <span style=""> </span>This is what a verified petition means.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Petitioners’ claim that they filed the<span style=""> </span>Petition “<i style="">together with the registered voters who have affixed their signatures to the signature sheets’</i> will not help, but on the contrary, will only drown this Petition further in the morass of fatal defects.<span style=""> </span>Petitioner admits that the<span style=""> </span>registered voters composing the twelve percentum signed on ‘signature sheets’ rather than on the Petition, as required by the Constitution.<span style=""> </span>Not only did they fail to alleged that the signatories saw, read or understood the Petition when they signed but Petitioners even admitted that said signatories did not sign the petition but mere “signatures sheets”.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Lastly, and this is the cruel blow to Petitioners’ ambition, there was actually no opportunity at all, for the signatories to sign the Petition, since as the Petitioners themselves admit, the Petition was only drafted on August 25, 2006 !<span style=""> </span>It is, therefore, impossible for the “twelve percentum’ to have seen the petition, much less understood its contents, if it has not been drafted until August 25.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>A genuine and valid petition must have been drafted and finalized long before<span style=""> </span>the signatories were made to sign.<span style=""> </span>There would have been no problem had the instant Petition been dated and crafted on August 25, 2005, or even August 25, 2001, for surely you can draft your proposed Petition and campaign for three or four years among the registered voters.<span style=""> </span>That<span style=""> </span>Petition would still be valid, since there is no time limit as to the period for the signature drive. <span style=""> </span>It is impossible, <span style=""> </span>however, for the Petitioners to claim that they drafted the Petition on August 25, 2006 on the same day that they were able to get millions of registered voters to sign. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Petitioners cannot now belatedly claim that when the signatories signed the ‘signature sheets’, they were actually attached to herein Petition because that would be perjury, a serious offense that merits criminal prosecution and disbarment.<span style=""> </span>After all, any one of the alleged 8-10 million ‘signatories’ can attest that no such thing happened. <span style=""> </span>Surely, no charter change advocate would risk being respondents in hundreds of criminal and administrative cases that will definitely be filed against them should they commit perjury.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Petitioners cannot belatedly insist that a draft Petition was attached to the signature sheets when the latter were signed. Not only is this another case for perjury but also because, a draft petition is not the Petition contemplated by the Constitution. <span style=""> </span>Furthermore, Petitioners now have the burden of proving that said draft petition is EXACTLY the same as herein Petition.<span style=""> </span>If a single word or provision in the draft Petition they may claim to have attached to the signature sheets has been deleted in the Petition they filed before this Commission, then the entire Petition dies a violent death since it is no longer the same as the one signed by the signatories.<span style=""> </span>If the current petition no longer contains a provision in the supposed draft Petition such as, for example, the deletion of the provision stating that “<i style="">Senators whose terms end in 2010 shall be members of the Interim Parliament”</i> such omission is fatal to the Petition and this Honorable Commission has no recourse but to dismiss it with a friendly advice for Petitioners to conduct a signature campaign one more time or file another Petition in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Lastly, this Honorable Commission, even if such claim were now made by Petitioners, cannot give credence to such claim, since the Petition on its face has already expressly admitted that it was drafted on<span style=""> </span>August 25 2006 and that the ‘signatories’ signed mere “signature sheets” and not herein Petition. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>For its failure to follow the constitutional requirement under Section 2, Article XVII,<span style=""> </span>the instant Petition should be dismissed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">II<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">THE PETITION MUST BE DISMISSED BECAUSE IT IS FATALLY DEFECTIVE AS TO FORM AND SUBSTANCE, HAVING VIOLATED COMELEC’S RULES<span style=""> </span>ON PROCEDURE AND FOR ITS FAILURE TO ACHIEVE THE 12% AND 3% REQUIREMENT DUE TO FRAUD AND OTHER<span style=""> </span>VIOLATIONS OF ELECTION RULES<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>COMELEC rules require Petitioners to submit 12 sets of their petition just like anyone who files similar Petitions with the Comelec.<span style=""> </span>In the instant Petition, the Petitioners did not file the proper number of copies, together with the attachments and supposed millions of signature that should support the petition.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Oppositors were required by this Honorable Commission to submit 12 copies of this Opposition together with its annexes and other attachments. Petitioners on the other hand, failed to submit 12 copies of the annexes including the alleged millions of signatures they have attached to their Petition. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Secondly, the Certification issued by election officers of the legislative districts do not conform to the constitutional requirement of assuring that at least 12% of the registered voters nationwide with at least 3% of the voters in a legislative district.<span style=""> </span>These officers did not see the signatory voter actually sign the signature sheet, and not being experts on the matter, could not have certified that the signatures are actually the signatures of the signatories.<span style=""> </span>Any certification that a signature ‘seems to’ or ‘appears to be’ the signature of the registered voter is not the certification required. This is the reason why, the Comelec implementing rules on people initiatives require signature stations, since it is the only way for a Comelec personnel to actually verify both the signature of the registered voter and the fact that he indeed read the Petition and understood it. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Thirdly, Petitioners claim that all the signatories are ‘residents’ and ‘registered voters’, despite findings in many areas such as Makati City that there are signatories who have migrated abroad (and therefore are not “residents”) or have died (and therefore, are no longer registered voters).<span style=""> </span>Petitioners therefore failed to achieve the 12% and 3% requirement in the Constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Petitioners cannot claim a presumption of regularity of the Certifications because there is no common, official and regular guidelines in the verification procedure resulting in the use, by the various Comelec election officers of different procedures that are irregular and invalid.<span style=""> </span>There can be no presumption of regularity in the said certification since the process of generating the signatures and the verification of the same was attended by fraud or irregularity, and there was no transparency in the undertaking such as notice to the possible Oppositors, <span style=""> </span>thereby putting into question the credibility of the result and the validity of the certification by local Comelec officials.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Furthermore, the content of the Petition itself is totally incomprehensible to the supposed signatories, as even lawyers, and possibly this Honorable Commission would find the proposals full of vague provision that cannot pass either in the signature drive or in a plebiscite. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">What does , for example, Par. C, Sec. 2 of the Petition’s proposed amendment mean?<span style=""> </span>It states that <i style="">“</i><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">with the exception of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution which shall hereby be amended and Sections 18 and 24 which shall be deleted, all other Sections of Article VI are hereby retained and renumbered sequentially as Section 2, ad seriatim up to 26, </span></em><i style="">all other sections of Article VI are hereby retained and renumbered sequentially…<b style="">unless they are inconsistent with the parliamentary system</b>”.</i><span style=""> </span>Who decides whether they are inconsistent with the parliamentary system ? Surely not the ‘registered voters’ composing the 12 per centum. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">What does, Par. C, Sec. 3 actually mean when it stated that “<em><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">all other Sections of Article VII shall be retained and renumbered sequentially as Section 2, ad seriatim up to 14<b style="">, unless they shall be inconsistent with Section 1 thereof, in which case they shall be deemed amended</b> so as to conform to a unicameral Parliamentary System of government”.<span style=""> </span>Oppositors are sure the supposed millions of signatories do not understand how such ‘all other sections of Article VII’ will look after someone has decided that they are inconsistent with ‘Section 1”.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">And what is this provision in Par. C Section 4 which states that :<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p style="margin: 5pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">(3) Within forty-five days from ratification of these amendments, the interim Parliament shall convene to propose amendments to, or revisions of, this Constitution consistent with the principles of local autonomy, decentralization and a strong bureaucracy.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p style="margin: 5pt 0.5in 5pt 4.5pt; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><span style=""> </span></span></em><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black;">Arguendo,</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"> did the supposed millions of signatories, (and even those who will vote in a plebiscite),<span style=""> </span>understand that when they approve the current “amendments” they are also actually approving another process for the ‘amendments to, or revisions of,’ the Constitution they have just ratified?<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Do the signatories know that there are two<span style=""> </span>“amendments” and ratifications that will result from the current campaign for charter change ? <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The abstract or question posed in the petition, does not sufficiently describe the issue being asked of the electorate nor can the electorate’s vote of a yes describe his intention.<span style=""> </span>What if he or she wants a parliamentary form of government but does not want a unicameral one, or<span style=""> </span>a German model instead of the French model? Should she vote YES? If so, then the plebiscite cannot and will not reflect his or her will.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Voting NO does not address the problem, since it does not reflect that particular voter’s will, which in this case, actually favors a shift to a parliamentary system.<span style=""> </span>No country in the world has burdened its electorate in a plebiscite that includes the amendment of at least FIFTY FIVE SECTIONS of their Constitution, such as those contained in the instant petition.<span style=""> </span>Should the people’s initiative be allowed, the new Constitution will always be a questioned document, its credibility and therefore authority subject to disrespect and mistrust.<span style=""> </span>The process of amending a Constitution is as important as the content of the proposal. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><span style=""> </span>Due to the vagueness not only of the Petition, but even the proposed ‘amendments’ contained in the petition, this Honorable Commission cannot allow such a Petition to become subject of a plebiscite. </span></em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The Petition cannot be granted if only for any of the above fatal defects. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p style="margin: 5pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">III<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">ASSUMING <i style="">ARGUENDO</i> THAT THE PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE CAN PROCEED, THIS PETITION MUST BE DISMISSE IT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT ONLY ALLOWS A PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO UNDERTAKE AMENDMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The 1987 Constitution states that:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">ART. XVII <u>AMENDMENTS AND REVISION</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“SECTION 1.<span style=""> </span>Any <b style="">amendment</b> to, or <b style="">revision</b> of, this Constitution may be proposed by:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“(1)<span style=""> </span>The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its <span style=""> </span>Members; or<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“(2)<span style=""> </span>A constitutional convention.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“SECTION 2.<b style=""><span style=""> </span>Amendments</b> to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve <i style="">per centum</i> of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three <i style="">per centum</i> of the registered voters therein. No amendment under this section shall be authorized within five years following the ratification of this Constitution nor oftener than once every five years thereafter.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“The Congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise of this right.” (underscoring supplied)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">The very title of Article differentiates an amendment from revision. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">Unlike Section 1, which allows for a revision to, or<span style=""> </span>an amendment of the Constitution, Section 2 on peoples initiative carefully withdraws the power to revise. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">This Petition will amend two major articles containing FIFTY-FIVE PROVISIONS and will add a Transitory Provision that will allow, inter alia, for no elections in 2007,<span style=""> </span>a constituent assembly that will start amending the new Constitution within 45 days, members of the Cabinet to sit<span style=""> </span>in Parliament without having been elected to the same, and an Interim Prime Minister who will wield the dual powers of head of government and state once Pres. Gloria Arroyo and Vice-President Noli de Castro die or are impeached,<span style=""> </span>and an extension of terms for the entire government, <span style=""> </span>cannot surely be called a mere ‘amendment’ to the Constitution.<span style=""> </span>Surely, amending the Constitution in order to have our entire government become an UNELECTED GOVERNMENT,<span style=""> </span>is so fundamental a shift in constitutional principles to be described as a mere amendment. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;">This Petition must be dismissed since it proposes a revision of the Constitution, in violation of Art. XVII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>III<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">THE COMMISSION ON ELECTION IS PROHIBITED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN <i style="">SANTIAGO V. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS</i>, 270 SCRA 106 (1997), FROM ENTERTAINING OR TAKING COGNIZANCE OF A PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Pursuant to the role of the Supreme Court in the system of a constitutional government, it has the prerogative to declare what the law is. It is its determination of what the Constitution or any statute for that matter says that is binding and until a new reading is had by the Court, what it has said in a case is the law for everybody else to follow. Nobody has the right to second guess the Court, much less challenge its determination in a manner that borders on direct challenge to its authority to pronounce what the law is.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The Court pointedly said in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><i style="">Santiago</i></st1:place></st1:City><i style=""> v. COMELEC:</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“This petition must then be granted, and the COMELEC should be permanently enjoined from entertaining or taking cognizance of any petition for initiative on amendments to the Constitution until a sufficient law shall have been validly enacted to provide for the implementation of the system.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“We feel, however, that the system of initiative to propose amendments to the Constitution should no longer be kept in the cold; it should be given flesh and blood, energy and strength. Congress should not tarry any longer in complying with the constitutional mandate to provide for the implementation of the right of the people under that system.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“a)<span style=""> </span>GRANTING the instant petition;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“b)<span style=""> </span>DECLARING R. A. No. 6735 inadequate to cover the system of initiative on amendments to the Constitution, and to have failed to provide sufficient standard for subordinate legislation;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>“c)<span style=""> </span>DECLARING void those parts of Resolution No. 2300 of the Commission on Elections prescribing rules and regulations on the conduct of initiative or amendments to the Constitution; <span style=""> </span>xxx <a style="" href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>So far, Congress has tarried.<span style=""> </span>No law has been passed to replace the invalidated initiatives law.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>The Solicitor General himself Eduardo Nachura, when he was a member of the 12<sup>th</sup> Congress filed a bill that will implement the constitutional provision on Initiative.<span style=""> </span>This is an open admission by the main defender of the Petitioners, that indeed, there is no existing law that will allow for a people’s initiative.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>There are three bills currently pending in the Senate, filed by Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Mirriam Santiago and Sen. Loi Ejercito Estrada. Again, another admission of the fact that indeed, nothing has changed since the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santiago</st1:place></st1:City> ruling—there is no existing law to implement the people’s initiative.<span style=""> </span>And therefore, this Commission has no jurisdiction to entertain any petition on the people’s initiative and has no authority to order the verification of the signatures therein. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; color: black; font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">P</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">RAYER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Based on the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission to:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">DISQUALIFY CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN ABALOS from participating in the deliberation and decision on herein petition, having publicly pre judged the issue and supported the legitimacy and constitutionality the verification of signatures in the subject petition, a major issue that will be decided upon by the Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">DISMISS the Petition for being unconstitutional and violative of the permanent injunction by the Supreme Court.<span style=""> </span>Due to the Supreme Court’s ruling prohibiting the Comelec from <i style="">entertaining and taking cognizance of any petition</i> for a people’s initiative, we further pray that the Decision dismissing the Petition should not DISCUSS OR RULE ON THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE SIGNATURES AND THE VALIDITY OF THE CERTIFICATION ISSUED THEREIN, since <b style="">tackling the FACTUAL BASIS OF THE PETITION IS ESSENTIALLY AND ACTUALLY TAKING COGNIZANCE OF THE PETITION</b>.<span style=""> </span>The Commission or any election personnel in the field CANNOT RULE ON THE VALIDITY OF THE SIGNATURES AND THE FACT THAT NO FRAUD WAS COMMITTED IN PROCURING THESE SIGNATURES<span style=""> </span>as this is in direct violation of the injunction. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>In the <b style="">ALTERNATIVE</b>, should the Commission tackle the issue of the sufficiency of the required signatures and fulfillment by the petition of the 12%-3% <span style=""> </span>constitutional requirement, Oppositors pray that the Commission <b style="">look into the <span style=""> </span>signatures presented and allow Oppositors the opportunity to object <span style=""> </span>against the <span style=""> </span>admission of any signature not deemed authentic by Oppositors.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">DISMISS</span></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>the petition as it was not filed by the “12 of the total number of registered voters” as required by the Constitution, it seeks to revise<span style=""> </span>the Constitution rather than merely amend it, and for Petitioner’s violation of the various election rules and laws, both procedural and substantive. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">NULLIFY</span></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"> the certification issued by the local COMELEC officers in relation to the Petition, for having been issued in violation of the permanent injunction imposed by the Supreme Court, and being constitutive of an illegal expenditure of government funds and resources. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>Other forms of relief, just and equitable, are also prayed for. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>28 August 2006, <st1:placename st="on">Pasig</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType> for City of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Manila</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">Counsel for the Oppositors <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h4 style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">M</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">ARVIC M.V.F. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">L</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">EONEN<o:p></o:p></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">Roll No. 35226 [5-28-1988]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">PTR No. 7355588 [2-3-2006, QC]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">IBP No. 674541 [2-3-2006, QC]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">N</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">ERI </span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">J</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">AVIER </span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">C</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">OLMENARES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">IBP 673655 02-20-06<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">PTR No. 7154810, 02-20-06<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">Roll No. 43060<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">No. I Matatag corner Maaralin Streets<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">Central District <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Quezon City</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Copperplate Gothic Light&quot;;">Email: </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="mailto:ncolmenares@yahoo.com">ncolmenares@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">MANIFESTATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Pursuant to Rule 13, section 11 of the Rules of Court, Opposers respectfully manifest that the Petitioners were served their copies of this Opposition by means of registered mail because of the lack of messengerial staff to effect personal service, the lack of material time, and the considerable distance between the parties’ respective offices.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Neri Javier Colmenares<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Copy furnished:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><st1:placename st="on"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">DEMOSTHENES</span></st1:PlaceName><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"> <st1:placename st="on">DONATO</st1:PlaceName> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Counsel for <st1:placename st="on">Petitioner</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placename st="on">Raul</st1:PlaceName> Lambino<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Autoland</span></st1:PlaceName><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"> <st1:placetype st="on">Building</st1:PlaceType></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">1616 Quezon Avenue</span></st1:address></st1:Street><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">South Triangle, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Quezon City</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">ALBERTO <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">AGRA</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Counsel for Petitioner Erico Aumentado<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">No. 12 Fourth St</span></st1:address></st1:Street><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Saint Ignatius Village Quezon City<br /> </span><st1:placetype st="on"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">REPUBLIC</span></st1:PlaceType><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"> OF THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">PHILIPPINES</st1:country-region></st1:place><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">_______________, METRO <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">MANILA</st1:City></st1:place><span style=""> </span>)<span style=""> </span>S.S. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <h1><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;; font-style: normal;">OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING <o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">I, FLORISA ALMODIEL, of legal age, Filipino, a registered voter, and with office address at No. 1 Matatag corner Maaralin Streets after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby state that:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">1.<span style=""> </span>I am one of the Opposers in the foregoing Opposition;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">2. <span style=""> </span>I have read the contents of the foregoing Opposition and I attest that the contents of the same are true and correct of my own knowledge and on the basis of authentic documents in my possession;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">3.<span style=""> </span>I attest that I have not commenced any other action or proceeding, involving the same issues subject of this present Opposition, in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or the different divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">4.<span style=""> </span>To the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is, or remains, pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or the different divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">5.<span style=""> </span>If I should hereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or the different divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency, I undertake to promptly inform this Honorable Court of that fact within five (5) days from such notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 3.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">________________________<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <h3 style="margin-left: 2.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>florisa almodiel<o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this ___ day of August 2006 in ___________________ affiant exhibiting to me her Community Tax Certificate No. 18883274 issued on 4-21-06 in<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Marikina</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Doc. No. _____;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Page No. _____;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Book No. _____;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Series of 2006. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div style="" id="ftn1"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Sylfaen;"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Sylfaen;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Sylfaen;"> “Abalos Tells Critics of Cha-Cha: Go to SC,” <i style="">Philippine Daily Inquirer</i>, 3 April 2006, p. 1, col. 3.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn2"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 200%;"><a style="" href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: Sylfaen;"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Sylfaen;">[2]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: Sylfaen;"> <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><i style="">Santiago</i></st1:City></st1:place><i style=""> v. COMELEC</i>, 270 SCRA, at ___.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1156743824237177972006-08-28T13:43:00.000+08:002006-08-28T13:43:52.943+08:00CODAL SET TO OPPOSE SIGAW PETITION: COMELEC SHOULD ALLOW OPPOSITION AND PUBLIC HEARING<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style=""> </span>CODAL expresses its commitment to battle the petition for a people’s initiative that Sigaw ng Bayan will file every step of the way.<span style=""> </span>According to the game plan of pro chacha advocates, SIGAW will file a petition with the COMELEC which will immediately dismiss it due to the permanent injunction, so that SIGAW can immediately go up to the Supreme Court.<span style=""> </span>They then expect the Supreme Court to immediately abandon <i style="">Santiago vs. Comelec</i> and hastily allow the setting of a plebiscite without any opportunity for opposition.<span style=""> </span>This scheme should not be allowed and must be frustrated at every turn.<span style=""> </span>The Commission on Election is urged to allow those opposing the Petition to be heard before it decides on the issue. </p> <span style=""></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">SIGAW Petition is Illegal <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The Petition of SIGAW is illegal, as many of the signatures it presented to the COMELEC for verification were not only procured though fraudulent means, but also, many of these signatures were manufactured signatures of dead people or those who have migrated abroad.<span style=""> </span>CODAL, even if we do not believe SIGAW is capable of filing its petition today attaching 10 million signatures as they announced, challenges SIGAW to submit to the COMELEC, together with its Petition, all the supposed millions of signature they were able to procure rather than the mere certification from district Comelec officers.<span style=""> </span>This will give Oppositors the opportunity to scrutinize each and every signature to expose the fraud.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL will also prove the illegality of the petition by questioning the funding of Sigaw, an amorphous NGO that does not have a clear office address, but has the capacity to launch expensive media campaigns and hold forums in almost all the cities and provinces nationwide. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL will also contest the public funds used by local officials in traveling to and from Sigaw activities as misappropriation and therefore a violation of the anti graft law.<span style=""> </span>They must be held to account for the sources of their funding.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">SIGAW petition is violates the Constitution and the Supreme Court Decision in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Santiago</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Firstly, the Constitution only allows a people’s initiative to amend, but not revise, the Constitution. The Sigaw proposal intends to revise the 32 provisions under Article VI on Congress, 23 provisions under Article VII on the President and Vice President and the 27 provisions under the Transitory Provision<span style=""> </span>or a total of at least 82 provisions.<span style=""> </span>This is an overhaul or revision of the 1987 Constitution, which a people’s initiative does not have the power to carry out. <span style=""> </span>It is impossible for signatories, even if they are lawyers,<span style=""> </span>to comprehend the impact and implications of revising 82 sections of the Constitutions thereby nullifying the signatures attached to the SIGAW petition.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Secondly, there is no enabling law as required<span style=""> </span>by Art. XVII, Section 2 which states that ‘<i style="">Congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise’</i> of the right to peoples initiative.<span style=""> </span>Even the Solicitor General, Eduardo Nachura, when he was a congressman, filed a bill proposing an enabling law for a people’s initiative.<span style=""> </span>This is an admission by the very person tasked to defend charter change in courts that there is indeed no enabling law for a people’s initiative. It must be noted that Solicitor General Nachura’s bill<span style=""> </span>recommended <span style=""> </span>that the proposed question in a peoples initiative must not exceed 100 words, again an admission that such an initiative cannot propose complicated amendments beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Thirdly, the Supreme Court has permanently enjoined the COMELEC from entertaining any petition on a peoples’ initiative absent any enabling law. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">Pres. Arroyo cannot be impeached next year under the new Constitution <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL asks voters whose names appear on the SIGAW list to immediately go to the COMELEC and withdraw their signatures from the list should SIGAW file its petition.<span style=""> </span>The Constitution will not only entrench Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s term until 2010 but will also grant her more powers including the requirement <b style="">of two thirds vote in the House of Representative before she can be impeached, not just 1/3 as currently required, thereby making it impossible for Pres. Arroyo to be impeached next year</b>.<span style=""> </span>It will also allow her to stay on as Prime Minister beyond 2010.<span style=""> </span>It will cancel the elections in 2007 and will immediately convene the interim parliament to constitute itself as a constituent assembly to further amend the Constitution and provide more damaging economic and political policies.<span style=""> </span>The battle on charter change therefore, is a battle not only between what is legal and illegal but also on what is moral and immoral, requiring the active participation of the people from all walks of life.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Reference Person: <span style=""> </span>Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1156743757912973932006-08-28T13:42:00.000+08:002006-08-28T13:42:38.310+08:00COMELEC HYPOCRICY CONDEMNED: URGED TO REVIEW SIGNATURES<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span><o:p></o:p><span style=""> </span>CODAL condemns the Commission on Election for colluding with Sigaw ng Bayan, a party to a petition before it, to railroad the approval for a peoples initiative by taking the hypocritical position of dismissing the complaint without allowing the Oppositors to question the signatures.<span style=""> </span>CODAL was informed that COMELEC’s game plan is to dismiss Sigaw’s petition so that Sigaw can immediately raise it with the Supreme Court who in turn is expected to abandon its <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Santiago</st1:city></st1:place> ruling.<span style=""> </span>The COMELEC announced however,<span style=""> </span>that it will not allow questions on the authenticity of<span style=""> </span>the alleged millions of signatures.<span style=""> </span>This will cover-up the fraud and deception<span style=""> </span>used in the signature drive for charter change and will be no different from the 2004 presidential canvassing and the two impeachment proceedings where objections were merely “noted” and any evidence of fraud was not allowed to be presented. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL expresses its disgust over the hypocritical stance of Chairman Benjamin Abalos who now claims that Comelec cannot entertain the Sigaw petition due to the Supreme Court injunction, after he allowed the verification of signatures of the Sigaw petition in all Comelec offices nationwide. Comm. Resureccion Borra and Comm. Felix Brawner issued a memorandum ordering the verification of the signatures, which not only shows the duplicity of Chairman Abalos and the COMELEC but also makes them liable for Contempt of the Supreme Court. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL demands that the COMELEC <i style="">en banc</i> allow objections to the signatures so that Oppositors may be given the opportunity to prove the farce that is the peoples initiative and so that those responsible may be criminally and administratively charged.<span style=""> </span>Again, just like the impeachment, the cover up of the fraud committed in the signature campaign for charter change will only inflame the current instability as another legal arena for redress is closed. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="">Human Rights Case is Strong: If only allowed in the Impeachment Proceeding<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL also takes exception to the position by a lawyer’s group Competent and Responsible Educators for Understanding the Law (CREUL) that the inclusion of human rights violations in the impeachment complaint helped kill the impeachment complaint. Such a position is not only legally and factually baseless but also deceptive and will surely not lead to a competent and responsible understanding of the law.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Firstly, members of the majority have stated, even before they read the Complaint,<span style=""> </span>that the impeachment complaint will lose as the process is a numbers game which means that their vote will depend on whether they are pro-Arroyo or not and not on the charges or evidence presented in the complaint.<span style=""> </span>In fact, nowhere in the Justice Committee<span style=""> </span>report dismissing the complaint was it stated that the impeachment complaint is dismissed because the human rights evidence is weak, a fact which may have escaped CREUL members.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Secondly, the human rights complaint contains direct evidence from witnesses and the victims themselves that the military committed these violations such as the testimony of the daughter of spouses Albarillo who saw her parents taken away and killed by the military and the daughter of Patricio Abalos who saw her father abducted by a unit under Gen. Jovito Palparan headed by Lt. Basquinas, both of whom admitted to her that her father (who remains missing until now) is in their custody. The Elvis case is also a very strong case against the military since the victim of abduction and torture himself survived.<span style=""> </span>He was released by the military from detention after a court ordered them to do so in a habeas corpus case.<span style=""> </span>There are hundreds of documentary and testimonial evidence that could have been presented<span style=""> </span>had Congress allowed the presentation of evidence.<span style=""> </span>Seasoned lawyers know that testimonial evidence is very strong especially if coming from the victims themselves who not only witnessed the crime but also, have no motive to mislead the authorities on the identity of the perpetrators. The fact that these witnesses are afraid of the military makes their testimony more credible. . </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>If the lawyer’s group contention were true, then logic dictates that Pres. Arroyo and her allies should have allowed the presentation of evidence to expose weakness of the human rights case and destroy forever the allegations of the complicity of the Arroyo government on the political killings.<span style=""> </span>However,<span style=""> </span>fearful of the damage the evidence will create, the House Majority obstinately refused to allow the presentation of evidence. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Lastly, Creul did not know of an existing jurisprudence that may convict Pres. Arroyo for the human rights violations committed by her subordinates. Gen. Yamashita and other war criminals were hanged for command responsibility in war crimes even if there was no evidence showing their direct participation in such based on the following elements:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">(i)<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7;" > </span></span><!--[endif]-->there is widespread and systematic violation of human rights;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">(ii)<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7;" > </span></span><!--[endif]-->the troops under the command of the accused were involved or implicated in the same;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">(iii)<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7;" > </span></span><!--[endif]-->the accused commander, who has supervision and control over the troops,<span style=""> </span>is aware of the above</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">(iv)<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7;" > </span></span><!--[endif]-->the commander failed to stop the atrocities</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>In fact, the evidence against Pres. Arroyo is stronger since she not only failed to stop the violations but on the contrary, rewarded the perpetrators, even hailing Gen. Palparan during her SONA. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The human rights case against Pres. Arroyo is strong.<span style=""> </span>Credible international institutions such as the Inter Parliamentarian Union (IPU), the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) the second largest lawyers group in the world,<span style=""> </span>Lawyers without Borders,<span style=""> </span>Amnesty International, World Council of Churches, and even the Philippine Commission on Human Rights found more than sufficient evidence to hold the Arroyo government responsible for human rights violations.<span style=""> </span>Only the allies of the president in Congress and CREUL chose to ignore the evidence, surely a case of careless, irresponsible and incompetent reading of the law. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Reference Person: <span style=""> </span>Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 27pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1156149411461161022006-08-21T13:03:00.000+08:002006-08-21T16:36:51.716+08:00PROBE BODY: EFFECTIVE ONLY IF GENUINELY INDEPENDENT, CREDIBLE, TRANSPARENT AND WITH POWERS TO PROSECUTE<o:p></o:p><span style=""> </span>CODAL<span style=""> </span>finds unacceptable Pres. Arroyo’s creation of a probe body to investigate political killings without any consultation from the victims and the human rights sector to assure the public that the body is genuinely independent.<span style=""> </span>Although we have condemned Pres. Arroyo, the PNP, the AFP and the DOJ for their silence and inaction in the past five years while the killings were going on, we would have welcomed Pres. Arroyo’s attempt for the creation of a probe body if it is genuinely independent, effective and credible because it is transparent and consultative. Even if CODAL finds it encouraging that the President has essentially abandoned Task Force Usig<span style=""> </span>as it has failed to gain any credibility from the victims and the public, it is<span style=""> </span>condemnable that another body is created without putting up mechanisms that will ensure its independence, credibility and effectiveness, thereby condemning that body to the same fate as TF Usig. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="">Suspension of public officials who fail to appear and other powers<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p><br /><span style=""> </span>For any investigating body to be truly independent, it must have fiscal and administrative autonomy from any government institution, especially from the executive. The Commission must have all the powers under Section 37, Chapter 9, Book I of the Administrative Code of 1987 including the power to issue summons and subpoena duces tecum and contempt powers, specifically the power to facilitate contempt sanctions against anyone who refuses to implement that Commission’s order.<span style=""> </span>The President must assure that any member of the AFP, the PNP and any official will appear before the Commission, and that any duly notified executive official who fails to appear will be summarily punished by the President herself with suspension from whatever position or rank until that official appears before the Commission. The Commission’s Secretariat including a legal team of human rights lawyers must also be independent from the executive.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="">Power to Prosecute 4 categories of human rights violations<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Furthermore, the body must not only have the power to investigate the killings, abductions, torture and massacres but also the power to prosecute the perpetrators to ensure that no one will belittle its<span style=""> </span>authority.<span style=""> </span>It must, therefore, be clothe with an inherent deputization<span style=""> </span>from the Justice Department to file the necessary criminal and administrative charges against suspected perpetrators of<span style=""> </span>these very serious human rights violations, specifically the four categories of <b style="">killings, abductions, torture</b> and <b style="">massacres</b>. As such, the Commission’s budget should allow it to get the services of human rights lawyers who will conduct such prosecution.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The body, for purposes of credibility, must be acceptable to the victims of human rights violation and must have <b style="">at least one representative each from the victims and the human rights sector</b>.<span style=""> </span><b style="">The Commission on Human Rights must also have one representative sitting in that Commission</b>. <span style=""> </span>The failure to appoint any representative from the human rights sector while appointing representatives from the NBI and the Department of Justice, two institutions which have failed to seriously investigate and prosecute perpetrators of the killings in the past five years immediately puts into question the credibility of the body. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>For purposes of transparency, the Commission must be required to transmit <b style="">regular<span style=""> </span>reports to the President, the respective Human Rights Committees of the House and<span style=""> </span>the Senate, and the victims</b> or human rights groups.<span style=""> </span>The entire proceedings before the Commission must be held in public, and all its documents must accessible to the victims, the suspects and the public in general. <span style=""> </span>Furthermore, before the Commission is established, <b style="">there must be consultations with affected sectors , organized by the Commission on Human Rights</b> not only to recommend members of that Commission from which the President must chose from but also to ensure that the interest of the victims and those affected by the Commission’s work will be considered in the crafting of the Order establishment such a Commission.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Lastly,<span style=""> </span>Pres. Arroyo must <b style="">allow the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, including the UN Special Rapporteurs for Extra-judicial Killings and<span style=""> </span>Involuntary Disappearance to gain access to that Commission’s proceedings</b> so that they may monitor its work and therefore assure the international community of the independence and transparency of such a body.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL urges that both Houses of Congress also issue a joint resolution calling for such an independent body and urging the President to <b style="">dissolve the Commission pending the institution of independent mechanism</b>.<span style=""> </span>CODAL urges President<span style=""> </span>Arroyo to <b style="">desist from implementing Executive Order</b> creating ‘The Commission to Conduct an Independent Probe on Killing of Media Practitioners and Militant Activists’ and immediately institute the mechanism for a genuine independent probe acceptable to the victims and the public. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>Absent mechanisms to ensure independence, effectiveness and credibility through transparency and consultations, the latest probe body will be nothing more than a publicity stunt aimed at pacifying the snowballing criticism of the people and the international community over the political killings, without any serious attempt to identify the perpetrators and the masterminds behind these attacks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="">Transmittal of the International Criminal Court Treaty to the Senate<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL takes this opportunity to also reiterate its previous call on Pres. Arroyo to immediately transmit the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to the Senate so that the Senate may be able to fulfill its constitutional function of concurring or not concurring with the ratification of that treaty. Since that treaty has been ratified by the Office of the President, when Pres. Joseph Estrada signed it on 28 December 2000,<span style=""> </span>failure to submit it to the Senate will only strengthen the suspicion by the international community that Pres. Arroyo is guilty of human rights violations and is therefore afraid of the ICC.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>If Philippine courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute human rights violations, the ICC remains a viable venue for redress by victims of human rights violations, especially now that the impeachment proceeding against Pres. Arroyo for human rights violations has been dismissed by the Justice Committee.<span style=""> </span>Pres. Arroyo’s withholding of the treaty from the Senate is not only a violation of the Constitution but also a violation of our good faith obligation under international law to implement treaties signed or ratified by our Presidents. CODAL urges the international community, including the government of the 100 countries who are members of the ICC, to urge Pres. Arroyo to transmit the treaty for concurrence. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;">Reference Person<span style=""> </span>: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares (August 21, 2006)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 63pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1155530525174898362006-08-13T12:39:00.000+08:002006-08-14T12:42:12.160+08:00Impeachment Not Purely Political: Dismissal of Impeachment based on Party Affiliation Violates Constitution<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>CODAL finds abhorrent the declaration by the House Majority of a ‘timetable’ to dismiss the impeachment complaint which means that the current proceeding is a mere side-show as a decision has already been made along party lines. This assertion of the majority stems from the theory that an impeachment proceeding is purely political and therefore a ‘numbers game’ where decisions are made on the basis of party affiliations.<span style=""> </span>Members of the Justice Committee who will dismiss the impeachment complaint on such basis and not on the merits are opening themselves to possible prosecution not only under the<span style=""> </span>Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act but also for violation of administrative law requirements to due process. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>It is inaccurate to define the nature of an impeachment proceeding as purely political, where judicial principles on due process and consideration of evidence presented has no place.<span style=""> </span>The claim by members of the House Majority<span style=""> </span>that the impeachment proceeding is a ‘numbers game’ where the impeachment or non-impeachment of a president depends on the number of her allies in Congress has no legal or constitutional basis, and is a bankrupt argument without any attempt at adherence to due process and the principle of making a decision after a careful consideration of evidence.<span style=""> </span>The legal theory of the Majority opens up the possibility that a duly elected president, who continues to have the support of the people, may be impeached simply because he or she does not have the ‘numbers’ in the House.<span style=""> </span>On the other hand, it may result in continued stay in office of a public official who deserves to be impeached, by the simple expedient of having as allies the Majority in the members of Congress. The Constitution grants the power to elect a president to the people, not Congress </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Black’s Legal Dictionary defines Political as <i style="">‘pertaining to, or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of those vested in those charged with the conduct of government; or relating to the management of affairs of the state”.</i><span style=""> </span>Impeachment is political in the sense that it may result in the removal of a public officer and therefore affects ‘<i style="">those in charge with the conduct of government’ or managing the ‘affairs of the state’</i>.<span style=""> </span>It is not political in the crass sense, that members of Congress decide depending on their political affiliation or the decision of their political parties.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span>The basis for the assertion that an impeachment proceeding requires observance of both the complainants and the respondent’s right to be heard and to due process<span style=""> </span>stem from the Constitution and the general principles of administrative law: </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">i.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="">The Constitutional enumeration of six grounds for the impeachment of certain public officials requires Congress to look into the basis of an impeachment <span style=""> </span>complaint and consider if indeed fall under the grounds enumerated.</b><span style=""> </span>Members of the Majority who declare that they will dismiss the impeachment, even if they have not read the same much less examined its evidence, are violating this constitutional requirement.<span style=""> </span>This ‘herded sheep’ mentality to acquit, or its reverse, the lynch mob mentality to impeach, the has no place in a genuine process for accountability of public officials. The Constitution requires Congress to decide only after it has examined the evidence and whether it constitute as proof of violation of one of the six constitutional grounds for impeachment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">ii.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->By providing for the procedure and the rules on impeachment, the Constitution and even Congress prohibits whimsical decisions on an impeachment complaint based on party affiliations and/or pecuniary and other benefits, since <b style=""><u>by crafting the rules there is that intention to ensure the integrity of the proceeding and the rights of the parties.<span style=""> </span>By issuing its Rules on Impeachment Congress has in fact admitted that the resolution of an impeachment complaint must follow the standards of fair play and due process including the right of both the complainant and respondent to be heard and the basis or evidence for their positions to be considered.</u></b><span style=""> </span>The Article VI, Sec. 3 of the Constitution on procedural rules requires a ‘hearing’.<span style=""> </span>The Complainants must be allowed to present their evidence in a Committee HEARING before a decision can be made on whether there is probable cause to impeach the President. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">iii.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="">Outright dismissal will violate due process principles under administrative law which require a careful consideration of the evidence on the merits before a decision is made.<span style=""> </span></b>Considering that the removal or non-removal of a person from public office is within the purview of administrative law, its general principles<span style=""> </span>of due process applies, including the duty of officers in administrative or quasi-judicial bodies to consider the evidence before rendering a decision.<span style=""> </span>If the removal or non-removal of a clerk requires a quasi-judicial body to consider the evidence before issuing a judgment,<span style=""> </span>there is no reason why similar requirements is unavailing if the subject of removal is highest public official of the land.<span style=""> </span>The Supreme Court has struck down decisions of administrative and quasi-judicial bodies not only for its failure to consider the basis of a complaint, but also, its mere failure to inform the complainant of the reason or basis of its decision.<span style=""> </span>The House Majority cannot go to the citizens-complainants with a decision dismissing the impeachment complaint on the basis that the complainants lack the ‘numbers’.<span style=""> </span>The House must look into the form and substance of the complaint and decide on the merits of the same.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>The Constitution and its defined procedure, the Impeachment Rules of the House and the due process principles of Administrative Law require a careful consideration of the evidence before judgment or decision. <span style=""> </span>CODAL urges the Justice Committee to withdraw their ‘timetable’ pronouncements and abandon the theory that impeachment is a purely political act that does not consider the right of the complainants to be heard and present their evidence.<span style=""> </span>The Complainants must be allowed to present evidence to prove the basis of the Complaint. The Constitution and the people require that evidence must be presented so that the justice committee may decide, on the merits, whether to dismiss the complaint or impeach the president.<span style=""> </span>CODAL urges the citizens complainants to file the necessary charges against those who will dismiss the impeachment complaint<span style=""> </span>according to the announced ‘timetable’ and on the basis of party-affiliations and not on the merits. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Reference Person<span style=""> </span>: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Date<span style=""> </span>: August 13, 2006</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1155181622877093432006-08-09T11:46:00.000+08:002006-08-10T11:49:08.320+08:00REFUSAL TO ATTEND HEARINGS ENDANGER OFW EVACUATION: EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS LIABLE FOR CONTEMPT OF THE SUPREME COURT<p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >CODAL is seriously concerned over the government’s continued refusal to allow public officials from appearing in the Senate OWWA Fund investigation in open defiance of the constitutional powers of the Senate and the Supreme Court decision on EO 464. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >The Executive Branch’s justification that they have to first attend to the evacuation of OFWs before they appear in any congressional investigation is of no moment, otherwise, the congressional power to investigate in aid of legislation is defeated by merely using executive work as justification. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >There is also no legal basis for the claim of Exec. Sec. Eduardo Ermita that Congress must first transmit the questions before an executive official is allowed to testify. The provision he erroneously cited, specifically Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution pertains to the Question Hour. The Senate investigation is provided for under Section 21 and guaranteed by the Supreme Court EO 464 decision. This not only exhibits a clear misreading of the Constitution but of an unexplained fear of the information the OWWA officials may divulge. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >The Supreme Court has upheld Congressional power to summon executive officials in congressional inquiries in the case of <i>Drilon vs. Executive Secretary</i>, when it declared that <i>“when the inquiry in which Congress requires their appearance is ‘in aid of legislation’ under Section 21, the appearance is <u>mandatory x x x</u> While the executive branch is a co-equal branch of the legislature, it cannot frustrate the power of Congress to legislate by refusing to comply with its demands for information.”</i></span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >Should Pres. Arroyo want to prohibit officials from appearing, she must personally or through Exec. Sec. Ermita claim confidentiality through the principle of ‘executive privilege’ as required by the Supreme Court in <i> Drilon</i> : </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" ><i>“Congress is not bound in such instances to respect the refusal of the department head to appear in such inquiry, unless a valid claim of privilege is subsequently made, either by the President herself or by the Executive Secretary.”</i></span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >In invalidating EO 464 the Supreme Court categorically prohibited such unjustified refusal to cooperate as not only violative of the legislative power of Congress but also of the people’s right to information: </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" ><i>“Resort to any means then by which officials of the executive branch could refuse to divulge information cannot be presumed valid. Otherwise, we shall not have merely nullified the power of our legislature to inquire into the operations of government, but we shall have given up something of much greater value – our right as a people to take part in government.”</i></span></p> <p align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >CODAL urges Pres. Arroyo to immediately order her officials to appear in the investigation as the efficient and speedy evacuation of OFWs is threatened considering that the issue involves the misuse of funds meant for the evacuation. It must be noted that millions of pesos were allotted before the 2004 elections, through retired general Roy Cimatu, for the evacuation of OFWs during the last US invasion of Iraq. There has been little public knowledge of how these millions were accounted for considering that no evacuation actually took place. It is imperative that use of funds for this latest evacuation be transparent and subject to congressional checks and balance, otherwise, many of the OFWs will be stranded in Lebanon since the supposed funds may not be sufficient or transmitted on time. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >CODAL is seriously concerned by Pres. Arroyo’s open defiance of a Supreme Court decision which may lead to a constitutional crisis as this may escalate into an open clash between the Executive branch and the Supreme Court and the Senate. With the refusal of even minor officials from the Professional Regulatory Commission to heed the Senate invitation, it may be a matter of time before an open clash between the Senate and the Executive will erupt, particularly if the Senate will order the arrest of the recalcitrant officials. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >CODAL is also afraid that this recalcitrance is preparing the public mind for the President’s refusal to disclose information should an impeachment hearing prosper, despite the Supreme Court’s declaration that even if the President is exempted from appearing in a congressional inquiry, such exemption does not apply to an impeachment proceeding. In <i> Drilon</i>, the Court stated that that: <i>“Only one executive <u>official</u> may be exempted from this power </i> (to summon officials in a congressional inquiry<i>)— the President on whom executive power is vested, hence, beyond the reach of Congress </i> <b><i>except through the power of impeachment</i></b><i>” </i></span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >By usurping and transgressing congressional and judicial powers and prerogatives, Pres. Arroyo’s government is a ‘dictatorship’ under general principles of international law, akin to Pres. Marcos’ usurpation of both the judiciary and the legislature during martial law. This merely strengthens impeachment charges that she used ‘dictatorial powers’ to maintain herself in power. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style=";font-family:Bell MT;font-size:100%;" >CODAL asks the Supreme Court to declare Exec. Sec. Ermita, OWWA and PRC officials in contempt for its contumacious defiance of the Court’s ruling. The executive is not above the law, nor is it above the judiciary and the legislature. </span><br /></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Reference Person: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >News Report Date: August 9, 2006</span></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1155181561842712472006-08-09T11:45:00.000+08:002006-08-10T11:46:02.066+08:00HOUSE MAJORITY DEFIES SUPREME COURT DECISION IN FRANCISCO VS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES<p align="center"><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;"><b></b></span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">Pres. Gloria Arroyo and her allies in Congress have once again defied the Supreme Court by clearly misinterpreting the Court’s ruling in <i> Francisco vs. House of Representatives</i> when they defined initiation of an impeachment proceedings to mean the “filing, referral and receipt by the Justice Committee” of an impeachment complaint. </span><br /> </p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">The Supreme Court declared in <i>Francisco</i> that an impeachment “proceeding is initiated or begins when a verified complaint is <b> filed</b> and <b>referred</b> to the Justice Committee for action”. Nowhere in the said decision did the Supreme Court require that for an impeachment proceeding to be initiated, the Justice Committee must receive it. CODAL finds Rep. Edcel Lagman’s strange interpretation distressing considering that he is a member of the legal profession and is supposed to be equipped with the knowledge to interpret clear decisions of the Court. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">CODAL also finds absurd the theatrical interpretation by a Rep. Douglas Cagas of the term ‘referral’ to include ‘receipt’ using the Readers Digest as reference. Webster and other dictionaries defines refer as ‘to direct to a person or place’, and referral as ‘an act or instance of referring’. The act of referring does not require acceptance by the object of referral. To follow the logic of the majority, no person can be charged with firing a gun unless he hits his target. CODAL finds it regrettable that the impeachment proceedings is held hostage by the senatorial ambitions or other political plans by members of the House. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">If the majority followed the Supreme Court definition, the Lozano Complaint is deemed initiated when it was referred by the Speaker to the Justice Committee on July 25, 2005 during the SONA last year. In that case, the one year period would have ended on July 25, 2006 and the valid complaint would be the 7<sup>th</sup> Complaint filed by members of Bayan on July 26, something possibly unacceptable to some members of the Majority. A Supreme Court decision, however, cannot be twisted on the basis of bias or ideological differences. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;"><b>Problems with the Majority Interpretation : Danger to Impeachment Complaints </b></span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">Firstly, the interpretation is a clear departure, again, from the Supreme Court ruling in Francisco. It must noted that the Majority patently violated this ruling last year, when it insisted that the impeachment complaint was initiated by the mere ‘filing’ of the Lozano complaint on June 27 rather than the ‘referral’ on July 25. </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">Secondly, this new House definition will allow the staff and other members of the Justice Committee to hold an impeachment complaint hostage by the mere act of delaying or withholding ‘receipt’ of the same. It practically invalidates intent of the Constitution and the rules of the House which requires the Speaker to ‘refer’ an impeachment complaint within 10 session days. The justice committee may not ‘receive’ an impeachment complaint within that 10 day period thereby making the Speaker vulnerable to violation of the rules as a result of the act of Committee personnel.</span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">Thirdly, this definition will sow confusion in the House in regard to bills or resolutions filed. Normally, bills are deemed ‘referred’ on the date when these are referred to a particular committee in the First Reading. With the definition, a bill is only deemed referred once the sponsor manages to have it received by the relevant Committee, a complete departure from the tradition of Congress since it was created in during the Commonwealth period. </span><br /></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">Pres. Arroyo’s has set a pattern of persistent defiance of judicial decisions not favorable to government such as prohibiting executive officials from appearing in Senate inquiries despite the Court’s decision invalidating EO 464. Her allies in the House have once again followed suit by distorting another Court decision. CODAL condemns the blatant disrespect and defiance shown by members of the Executive and Legislative branch to Supreme Court decisions and the erosion of the check and balance mechanisms under the Constitution in order to preempt serious investigation on crimes and other impeachable offenses. These acts only prove that the Impeachment Complaint is not only sufficient in form but also sufficient in substance particularly on the charge that Pres. Arroyo used ‘dictatorial powers’ to stay in power. </span><br /></p> <p><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">Reference Person: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Bookman Old Style;font-size:100%;">News Report Date: August 9, 2006</span></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1155009824198258712006-08-08T11:32:00.000+08:002006-08-08T12:03:45.790+08:00CREDIBILITY OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AT STAKE: THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE INHIBITION OF FERTILIZER FUND RECIPIENTS<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">CODAL calls on Members of Congress, whether from the majority or the opposition, who received funds from the GMA fertilizer project to inhibit themselves from the impeachment proceeding to ensure its credibility.<span style=""> </span>Any hasty dismissal of the impeachment complaint without the inhibition by tainted members may void the entire proceedings.<span style=""> </span>This scenario is analogous to the Galman-Aquino case where the Supreme Court allowed a re-trial despite the finality of a previous decision by a tribunal subsequently found to be biased. <span style=""> </span>The inhibition of involved justice committee members who will decide on the fate of the impeachment complaint is analogous to the inhibition of a judge. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The inhibition of judges perceived to be biased is a regular due process mechanism in the Philippine legal system either in jurisprudence or the Rules of Court. Pres. Gloria Arroyo, through her justice secretary, has asked for the inhibition of judges who ruled against government cases.<span style=""> </span>It is a tool to ensure that decisions are given respect and recognition, not only by the parties but by the public as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Inhibition is not only required under Sec.1 of Rule 137 of the Rules of Court but of the Code of Judicial Conduct which provides : <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Rule 3.12 A judge should take no part in a proceeding where the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style="">(a)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">where the judge ..has personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Canon 2 Rule 2.01 also requires that judges <i style="">‘should at all times promote public confidence in the integrity<span style=""> </span>and impartiality of the judiciary’</i>.<span style=""> </span>Members of the House must also ensure the integrity of the impeachment proceeding considering that at stake is the legitimacy of the government. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">Since congressmen-beneficiaries have a stake in the issue, it is imperative upon them to desist from voting on the impeachment complaint, which contains the charge of misuse of public funds in the GMA fertilizer scam.<span style=""> </span>The claim by the majority that they found nothing illegal in the use of the funds, despite findings by the Senate that the funds were channeled through fake NGOs and were used to buy overpriced fertilizer which were never received by the farmers, is of no moment.<span style=""> </span>Findings of illegality is not a prerequisite for inhibition. A judge who is a relative up to the 6<sup>th</sup> degree of one of the parties in a case before him is required to inhibit, even if there is nothing illegal in having a relative.<span style=""> </span>CODAL is concerned by the lack of decency by some congressmen who want to sit in the impeachment proceedings despite the fact that they have a stake in the outcome of the fertilizer fund case. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;">The inhibition issue must take precedent over other issues raised by Pres. Arroyo such as the motion to dismiss filed by third parties and the appeal on the 2004 impeachment currently pending before the Supreme Court.<span style=""> </span>Congressmen-beneficiaries of the GMA fertilizer fund cannot vote on the dismissal of the impeachment complaint unless the inhibition issue has been dealt with on the merits.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reference: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares, Spokesperson<br />Date: August 8, 2006</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 117pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1154771840380760272006-07-31T13:02:00.000+08:002006-08-05T17:59:25.773+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2840/2413/1600/CODAL%20at%20SONA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2840/2413/400/CODAL%20at%20SONA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">July 24, 2006<br />State of the Nation Address<br /></div>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1154342115639947822006-07-29T11:31:00.000+08:002006-07-31T18:36:32.790+08:00CONFLICTING LEGAL ARGUMENTS BY PRESIDENTIAL ALLIES<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:13;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Prelude to Dismissing the Impeachment Complaint on Technicalities that have no Constitutional or Legal Basis</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>Sen. Mirriam Santiago’s legal analysis that the impeachment complaints filed recently will be dismissed on the principles of ‘<i style="">res judicata’</i> and <i style="">“double jeopardy”</i> is without legal and constitutional basis. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>According to the Supreme Court in Mirpuri vs. CA (GR 114508, 1999) “Res judicata has the following requisites: (1)<span style=""> </span>the former judgment must be final (2) the judgment must be one on the merits, (3) it must have been rendered by a court having jurisdiction and (4) the parties, subject matter and causes of actions must be identical in the two cases.” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>It is a well known principle among lawyers that ‘res judicata’ only applies if the original case has been dismissed by a court on the merits and the same issues are raised by the same parties in a second complaint.<span style=""> </span>None of these elements are present. Sen. Santiago’s analysis may have been clouded by her pro-GMA sentiments when she missed the fact that the Amended Impeachment complaint<span style=""> </span>was dismissed on a baseless technical and procedural ground last year, and was never tackled on the merits by the Justice Committee.<span style=""> </span>Furthermore, the impeachment complaints contain new issues not raised in the amended complaint last year such as the imposition of Proclamation 1017, EO 464 and CPR.<span style=""> </span>The parties in both complaint are also different since the current complaints were filed by citizens-complainants while the amended complaint last year was filed by members of Congress.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Clearly res judicata does not apply. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>CODAL also finds absurd the claim by Sen. Santiago, who was a former RTC judge, that the impeachment complaints constitute ‘double jeopardy’ against Pres. Arroyo.<span style=""> </span>The Supreme Court<span style=""> </span>declared in Guerrero vs.<span style=""> </span>CA (GR 107211, 1996) that: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >“<span style=""> </span>any legal jeopardy attaches only (a) upon a valid indictment (b) before a competent court (c) after arraignment (d) a valid plea having been entered and (e) the case was dismissed or otherwise terminated without the express consent of the accused”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>CODAL expresses concern over the twisting of legal arguments by Sen. Santiago since, it is presumed that she, like any lawyer knows that the doctrine of double jeopardy only applies to criminal cases and not to an impeachment complaint.<span style=""> </span>Her pronouncements may be a prelude to the dismissal of the current impeachment complaints, again, on a technicality that has, as in last year, no constitutional or legal basis. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>The position of Rep. Monico Puentebella that the complaints will be dismissed because they ‘contain no new issues’ is both factually and legally baseless.<span style=""> </span>The charges last year were never tackled as the amended complaint was dismissed, so it is unethical for members of congress to delude the people on this respect. Furthermore, the complaints contain new issues. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;color:navy;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;color:navy;" ><span style=""> </span>Members of the Justice Committee must realize that <i style="">“t</i></span><i style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >he demands of due process present a weightier consideration than the need to bring an end to the parties' litigation. For more important than the need to write<span style=""> finis</span> to litigation is to finish it justly, and there can be no justice that satisfies unless the litigants are given the opportunity to be heard</span></i><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >” as the Supreme Court demanded in Salud vs. CA (GR 100156, June 27, 1994). Killing the impeachment complaint not only on mere technicalities, but on legally baseless technicalities will virtually close another legal venue for justice for victims of political killings, no different from that during Marcos’ martial law.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Correct Filing Date<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>CODAL also finds legally untenable the contention of Rep. Edcel Lagman that last year’s impeachment complaint was initiated not upon the filing of the impeachment complaint but by the receipt of the Justice Committee of the complaints on July 26. <span style=""> </span>The conflicting opinion of Rep. Prospero Nograles that the one-year ban starts on the date of the referral on July 25 is correct as it follows jurisprudence.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>The contention of both, however, is a 360-degree turnaround for the Majority which insisted that the mere <i style="">‘filing’</i> of the Lozano complaint on June 26 last year <span style=""> </span><b style="">initiated</b> the impeachment proceedings thereby making the Amended impeachment complaint a “second complaint’ and therefore barred. <span style=""> </span>It must be noted that the complainants last year were insisting that the complaint was initiated on the <i style="">date of referral</i> rather than filing and that, therefore, the Amended Complaint is not a ‘second complaint’ since it was referred to the Justice Committee together with the Lozano Complaint on July 25, 2005 during the SONA of<span style=""> </span>Pres. Arroyo. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>The Supreme Court , in Francisco vs. House of Representatives, (GR 160261, Nov. 10, 2003), has declared that an impeachment <i style="">“proceeding is initiated or begins, when a verified complaint is filed and <b style="">referred to the Justice Committee for action</b>.”</i><span style=""> </span>The decision is clear—an impeachment complaint is initiated upon the <b style="">referral</b> of the impeachment complaint on July 25 last year and not on the date that the Justice Committee received the complaint.<span style=""> </span>The one year ban therefore ends on July 25 of 2006 and the correct date for the filing of a valid impeachment complaint is July 26. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>However, it does not matter whether the July 26, July 27 or any other complaint is valid since all the complaints contain the same issues, and the all the complainants are united on the need to impeach Pres. Arroyo so that the evidence on the charges of electoral fraud, political killings and corruption be heard. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>CODAL supports Rep. Lagman’s disagreement with Atty. Romulo Macalintal’s position that the impeachment complaint be dismissed because it is pending on appeal before the Supreme Court. After killing the impeachment<span style=""> </span>complaint, it is abhorrent for presidential allies to now belatedly claim that it is still, in fact “alive”. Furthermore, any public official with a pending impeachment case, may still be charged with another impeachment complaint the following year, if she commits another impeachable offense subsequently.<span style=""> </span>Atty. Macalintal’s legal thesis will mean that public officials with pending impeachment complaints, are free to commit subsequent impeachable offenses and crimes provided they have a pending<span style=""> </span>impeachment complaint. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>The confusion and contradictions<span style=""> </span>of legal opinions among presidential allies show that they have no clear and strong legal basis with which to quash the impeachment complaints on mere technicalities.<span style=""> </span>The disarray among them may be favorable to the impeachment complaint and may convince many members of Congress that the impeachment complaints are valid as to form and substance. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>Presidential allies must resort to fair play and not use amorphous and patently erroneous legal arguments to derail the impeachment this year and confuse the people.<span style=""> </span>The ‘technical, prejudicial questions’ worked last year.<span style=""> </span>It may not work this year. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Reference<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>: Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares—Spokesperson <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="">Date<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>: 29 July 2006<span style=""> </span><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23490768.post-1153811664669089302006-07-24T13:12:00.000+08:002006-07-25T15:14:25.093+08:00REPORT ON THE ATTACKS AGAINST FILIPINO LAWYERS AND JUDGES<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 36pt; line-height: 130%; color: rgb(102, 102, 153);"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 36pt; line-height: 130%; color: rgb(102, 102, 153);"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 36pt; line-height: 130%; color: rgb(102, 102, 153);"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 28pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">FROM FACTS TO ACTION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;">REPORT ON THE ATTACKS AGAINST FILIPINO LAWYERS AND JUDGES <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;">THE INTERNATIONAL FACT FINDING <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">MISSION</st1:City></st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;">(IFFM)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB">Released by the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB">on</span><span style="color: navy;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><st1:date month="7" day="24" year="2006" st="on"><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB">July 24, 2006</span></st1:date><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <h1 style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="_Toc141246820"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">TABLE OF CONTENTS</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><!--[if supportFields]><span lang="EN-GB" style="'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>TOC \o &quot;1-4&quot; \h \z \u <span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246820"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">TABLE OF CONTENTS</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246820 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">2</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320030000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246821"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246821 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">4</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320031000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246822"><span style="" lang="EN-US">EXECUTIVE SUMMARY</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246822 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">5</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320032000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246823"><span style="" lang="EN-US">1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">INTERNATIONAL FACT FINDING MISSION (IFFM) ON THE ATTACKS AGAINST FILIPINO LAWYERS AND JUDGES</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246823 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">8</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320033000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246824"><span style="" lang="EN-US">1.1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Introduction</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246824 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">8</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320034000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246825"><span style="" lang="EN-US">1.2.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Composition of Delegation</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246825 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">9</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320035000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246826"><span style="" lang="EN-US">1.3.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Purpose of Mission</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246826 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">9</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320036000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246827"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">1.4.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Method of Working</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246827 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">9</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320037000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246828"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">1.5.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Media Coverage</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246828 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">10</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320038000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246829"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246829 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">11</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800320039000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246830"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Political System</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">.. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246830 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">11</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330030000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246831"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Executive branch</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246831 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">11</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330031000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246832"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.2.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Legislative branch</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246832 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">11</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330032000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246833"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.3.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Party List System</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">.. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246833 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">12</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330033000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246834"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.4.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Judicial branch</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246834 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">12</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330034000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246835"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.5.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Integrated Bar of the Philippines</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246835 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">12</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330035000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246836"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.1.6.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Legal Aid and Human Rights Lawyers</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246836 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">12</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330036000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246837"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.2.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Human Rights and Social Justice</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246837 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">13</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330037000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246838"><span style="" lang="EN-US">2.3.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Domestic Politics</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246838 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">13</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330038000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246839"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">2.4.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Communist insurgencies and Islamic separation movement</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246839 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">13</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800330039000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246840"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">3.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246840 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">15</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340030000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246841"><span style="" lang="EN-US">3.1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">The </span>Arroyo<span style="" lang="EN-US"> Administration</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246841 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">15</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340031000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246842">3.2.<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Policy of Wiping out the NPA and Labeling</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246842 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">16</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340032000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246843">3.3.<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Killings during the Arroyo administration</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246843 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">17</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340033000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246844"><span style="" lang="EN-US">4.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">THE HARASSMENT AND KILLINGS OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246844 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">19</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340034000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246845"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Investigation of a pattern</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246845 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">20</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340035000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246846"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.1.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Which lawyers and judges are victims?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246846 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">20</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340036000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246847"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.2.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Are lawyers and judges labelled and if so, how or by whom and as what?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246847 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">21</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340037000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246848"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.3.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Are lawyers and judges threatened and/or subjected to surveillance?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246848 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">21</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340038000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246849"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.4.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">How are lawyers and judges killed and what is the killer’s profile?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246849 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">23</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800340039000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246850"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.5.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">What have the authorities been doing?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246850 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">23</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350030000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc4" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246851"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">(i)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Reported crimes or requests for protection and the filing of complaints</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246851 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">24</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350031000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc4" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246852"><span style="" lang="EN-US">(ii)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Information about the investigation and prosecution of the murder cases</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246852 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">24</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350032000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc4" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246853"><span style="" lang="EN-US">(iii)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Condemnation and measures</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246853 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">24</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350033000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc4" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246854"><span style="" lang="EN-US">(iv)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Problems with building up cases</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246854 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">31</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350034000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc3" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246855"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.1.6.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">What are the results of the criminal investigations?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246855 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">33</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350035000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246856"><span style="" lang="EN-US">4.2.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">By whom are lawyers and judges killed and why?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246856 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">33</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350036000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc2" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246857"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">4.3.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Can human rights lawyers continue to conduct their legal profession?</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246857 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">35</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350037000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246858"><span style="" lang="EN-US">5.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">CONCLUSIONS</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246858 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">36</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350038000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246859"><span style="" lang="EN-US">6.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US">RECOMMENDATIONS</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246859 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">38</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800350039000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246860"><span style="" lang="EN-US">LIST OF ANNEXES</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246860 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">39</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800360030000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoToc1" style=""><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="" lang="NL"><a href="#_Toc141246861"><span style="" lang="EN-US">LIST OF SOURCES</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="">. </span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span></span><span style="'color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;"> PAGEREF _Toc141246861 \h </span><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;">40</span><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:data>08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100340031003200340036003800360031000000</w:data> </xml><![endif]--></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'color:windowtext;"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;" lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h1 style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if supportFields]><span lang="EN-GB" style="'mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><br /> <a name="_Toc141246821"></a><a name="_Toc141177618"><span style="">LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="NL"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">AFP<span style=""> </span>Armed Forces of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 70.5pt; text-indent: -70.5pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CARHRIHL<span style=""> </span>Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CBCP <span style=""> </span>Catholic Bishops Conference of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CHR <span style=""> </span>Commission on Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CODAL<span style=""> </span></span><span style="">Counsels for the Defense of Liberties<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CPP<span style=""> </span>Communist Party of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">DILG<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Department of the Interior and Local Government </span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">DoJ<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Department of Justice </span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">FLAG <span style=""> </span>Free Legal Assistance Group</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">IBP<span style=""> </span>Integrated Bar of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">ICCPR<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">IFFM<span style=""> </span>International Fact Finding <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Mission</st1:City></st1:place> on the Attacks against Filipino Lawyers <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">JMC<span style=""> </span>Joint Monitoring Committee<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">JAG<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Judge Advocate General <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">KMP <span style=""> </span>Philippine peasant organization<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">MILF<span style=""> </span>Moro Islamic Liberation Front</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">NBI<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">National Bureau of Investigation <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">NDFP<span style=""> </span>National Democratic Front of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">NPA<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">New People’s Army <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">PAO<span style=""> </span></span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Public Attorneys’ Office </span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">PCIJ <span style=""> </span>Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism </span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">PNP<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Philippine National Police <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="NL"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <h1 style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="_Toc141246822"></a><a name="_Toc141177619"><span style=""><span style="">EXECUTIVE SUMMARY</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Dutch and Belgian Lawyers organizations were alarmed by the reports and statements of international and Filipino human rights organizations and various news items about the violence against members of the legal profession in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Lawyers and judges are reportedly victims of serious harassment and intimidation while in the exercise of their profession or worse: brutally killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">At the invitation of the Philippine lawyers organization CODAL, the </span><span style="">Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation organized at the initiative of the Dutch Foundation Lawyers without Borders an International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM) on the Attacks against Filipino Lawyers and Judges. Two Dutch judges and six Dutch and Belgian lawyers investigated the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">From 15-20 June, 2006, the IFFM held interviews and conferences in Quezon City, Manila and Tacloban City, Leyte, with lawyer-victims, the families of slain lawyers, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, human rights advocates, concerned government agencies (Philippine Commission on Human Rights, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government), members of the judiciary (Supreme Court) and legislators (Senate and House of Representatives). It also studied relevant documents, including those provided by the aforementioned individuals, agencies and organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM observed that </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">to this date, the Arroyo administration rejects national and international criticism on its human rights record, by simply referring to its democratic institutions and human rights treaties, laws and policies.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">On paper, the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> is indeed a republic with democratic institutions including an elected President and separate executive, legislative and judicial branches. It has an independent Commission on Human Rights and respect for human rights principles are enshrined in its 1987 Constitution, laws and policies. The <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> has also signed and ratified almost all relevant international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Nevertheless, since 2001 not only 15 lawyers and 10 judges have been killed in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> but also almost 700 other individuals including members of leftist groups, journalists, priests, church-workers, human rights defenders, laborers and farmers. All were unarmed citizens. None of the killers has been convicted. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Taking into account that all democratic institutions are formally in place, the IFFM considers the situation especially alarming. This makes it abundantly clear that either the constitutional state does not function properly or that there are powers undermining its proper functioning. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Based upon its personal evaluation of the relevant documents and testimonies of individual cases, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">the IFFM has reached the following conclusions:</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Human rights lawyers and judges in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> are increasingly threatened, intimidated and killed as a consequence of which they encounter more and more difficulties in carrying out their legal profession. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The harassment and killings of members of the legal profession undermine the independence of judges and lawyers and, as a consequence, also the rule of law and the faith in (the function of) the judiciary system. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">There is a pattern in the harassment and killings of human rights lawyers and judges, which must be seen in the light of other killings in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> including the killings of members of leftist groups. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Prior to the attacks, victims are usually labelled by the military as “members or supporters of the CPP/NPA”, “communists” or “enemies of the state”. The next step is that victims are threatened and usually be subjected to surveillance by the military. The way victims are killed is also similar. Almost all assassinations are shooting incidents with a hit-and-run character conducted by a team of unidentified motorcycle-riding men. Even the most brutal atrocities hardly elicit any decisive action or condemnation from the government; and</span><span style="line-height: 130%;"> to this date, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">all cases have remained unsolved.</span><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Many people believe that the state security forces are involved in the killings and these allegations are supported – amongst others – by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, based upon its own investigations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Although t</span><span style="line-height: 130%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-GB">he</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 130%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span style="line-height: 130%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-GB">primary duty of the Government is to protect the life of the people, including lawyers and judges, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">the Arroyo administration has hardly done anything to address the extrajudicial killings effectively. In particular it has neither responded seriously to strong allegations that its own security forces are involved in the killings nor has it taken effective measures to improve the poor record of prosecutions of the perpetrators.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Only recently, President Arroyo has ordered that these extrajudicial killings be thoroughly investigated and eventually be stopped. This order has led to the establishment of a special Task Force, known as Task Force USIG, which is supposed to primarily take charge of the over-all management of the investigations in these cases. So far, however, Task Force USIG has not proven to be an independent body: It is chaired by the PNP which has a poor record as far as the effective investigation of the killings is concerned and which is mistrusted by the Philippine people. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Furthermore, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">the Arroyo administration</span><span style="line-height: 130%;"> has not condemned the killings publicly and in strong terms.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">This lack of an effective response of the Arroyo administration has led to a culture of impunity in which even more killings and human rights violations may take place. The IFFM notes that, up to this date, the killings continue unabated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Consequently, this culture of impunity has further diminished the people’s faith in the functioning of the constitutional state and the system of law culminating in a climate in which, for instance, lawyers and judges consider it “part of their job” to be threatened and in which witnesses of killings do not cooperate with the police or the public prosecutor out of fear or because they find it a waste of time as it comes to nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The Philippine government is under the obligation to take steps to ensure the compliance with human rights and the right to life in particular. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">In order to stop the killings, the threats and harassment of lawyers and judges, the IFFM calls on the government: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">1.<span style=""> </span>to condemn the killings publicly and in strong terms;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">2.<span style=""> </span>to immediately take vigorous steps to protect the safety of human rights lawyers and judges, which steps should include the prosecution of alleged perpetrators;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">3.<span style=""> </span>to leave no stone unturned in investigating the serious allegations that its own security forces are involved in the killings;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">4.<span style=""> </span>to constitute and fully support an independent body, i.e. not controlled by the government, to investigate the killings, threats and harassment and to follow its recommendations; <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">5.<span style=""> </span>to take all other measures needed to end the culture of impunity and to restore the people’s faith in the functioning of the constitutional state and the rule of law.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;"><br /> </span> <h1><a name="_Toc141177620"></a><a name="_Toc141246823"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">INTERNATIONAL FACT FINDING </span></span></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="">MISSION</span></span></span></st1:City></st1:place><span style=""><span style=""><span style=""> (IFFM) ON THE ATTACKS AGAINST FILIPINO LAWYERS AND JUDGES</span></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 34pt;"><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 34pt;"><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;">- <st1:date year="2006" day="15" month="6" st="on">JUNE 15-20, 2006</st1:date> - THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">PHILIPPINES</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></b></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 130%; color: navy;"> -<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246824"></a><a name="_Toc141177621"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">1.1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Introduction</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Dutch and Belgian Lawyers organizations were alarmed by the reports and statements of international and Filipino human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, Lawyers’ Rights Watch <st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL)<a style="" href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>, KARAPATAN<a style="" href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>, and various news items about the violence against members of the legal profession in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Lawyers and judges are reportedly victims of serious harassment and intimidation while in the exercise of their profession. Since 2001, fifteen lawyers and ten judges have been killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Deeply </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">concerned about these killings and harassment, the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation<a style="" href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> urged the Philippine government by letter of <st1:date month="1" day="20" year="2006" st="on">20 January, 2006</st1:date> (Annex1)</span><a style="" href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style=""> </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">to take immediate steps to protect the safety of Filipino lawyers and to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators thereof. The harassment and killings of lawyers, however, continued unabated.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">At the invitation of CODAL, the </span><span style="">Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation subsequently organized at the initiative of the Dutch Foundation Lawyers without Borders and with the support of the Netherlands Bar Association, the Amsterdam Bar Association and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) (Annex 2, 3 and 4) an International Fact Finding Mission on the Attacks against Filipino Lawyers (IFFM). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">CODAL assisted in organizing the program of the IFFM in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> and support was offered in connection therewith by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The IFFM itself has been fully independent from CODAL or any other individual or organization, being it a non-governmental organization such as KARAPATAN or a governmental agency such as the Philippine National Police.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Hereafter, the IFFM will first explain its purposes and method of working. In order to gain an insight into the context of the killings of lawyers and judges, it shall proceed by briefly touching upon its general observations and understanding of the Philippine political system and current domestic developments, before presenting its concluding observations and recommendations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246825"></a><a name="_Toc141177622"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">1.2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Composition of Delegation</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">As a manifestation of fraternal support and international concern, the IFFM was composed of the following attorneys, judges and lawyers from both <st1:city st="on">Amsterdam</st1:City>, the <st1:country-region st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Antwerp</st1:City>, <st1:country-region st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region></st1:place>: Jan Bless (Head of Delegation / Deputy-Judge), Gerrard Boot (Attorney), Jo Dereymaeker (Attorney), Hein Karskens (Attorney), <st1:personname productid="Judith Lichtenberg" st="on">Judith Lichtenberg</st1:PersonName> (Lawyer), Angela Meijer (Attorney), Adrie van de Streek (Attorney), Nol Vermolen (Judge). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The participants represented respectively Lawyers for Lawyers, Lawyers without Borders<a style="" href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)<a style="" href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> and Lawyers for the World.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246826"></a><a name="_Toc141177623"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">1.3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Purpose of </span></span></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="">Mission</span></span></span></st1:City></st1:place><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">As set out in its Mission Statement (Annex 5), the purpose of the IFFM is:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(a)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">to verify and collect as many findings as possible regarding the harassment and killings of several lawyers and judges as well as the (lack of) reaction thereto by the competent Philippine authorities;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(b)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">to inform the appropriate Philippine authorities about these findings and to express the deepest concerns about the harassment and killings of Filipino lawyers and judges;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(c)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">to inform the international community and any national and international lawyers organization in particular, about the foregoing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246827"></a><a name="_Toc141177624"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">1.4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Method of Working</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">From 15-20 June, 2006, the IFFM held interviews and conferences in Quezon City, Manila and Tacloban City, Leyte, with lawyer-victims, the families of slain lawyers, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), human rights advocates, like KARAPATAN, concerned government agencies (Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DoJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)), members of the judiciary (Supreme Court) and legislators (Senate and House of Representatives). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">In addition, the IFFM also studied documents provided by the aforementioned individuals,<span style=""> </span>agencies and organizations, reports and statements of international and Filipino human rights organizations, governmental country reports, various news items and other relevant documents. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">During its press conference in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Quezon City</st1:City></st1:place>, Metro Manila on <st1:date month="6" day="20" year="2006" st="on">June 20, 2006</st1:date>, the IFFM presented its initial findings (Annex 6).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Based upon its personal evaluation of the relevant documents and testimonies of individual cases, the IFFM has now produces its own final findings and recommendations as set out in this report. It will present its report to the organizing Foundation Lawyers for Lawyers and to the other Dutch, Belgian and international lawyers organizations concerned as well as to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Philippine government agencies, members of the judiciary and legislators it has met during its mission, with the urgent request to act upon its recommendations and do the utmost to stop the killings, threats and harassment of lawyers and judges.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM obviously will share its findings with the lawyer-victims, the families of slain lawyers, and the human rights advocates it has met during its mission. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246828"></a><a name="_Toc141177625"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">1.5.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Media Coverage</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">During its mission in the <st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region>, the IFFM held three press conferences on <st1:date month="6" day="16" year="2006" st="on">June 16, 2006</st1:date> in <st1:city st="on">Quezon City</st1:City>, Metro Manila, on <st1:date month="6" day="17" year="2006" st="on">June 17, 2006</st1:date> in Tacloban, Leyte and on <st1:date month="6" day="20" year="2006" st="on">June 20, 2006</st1:date> in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Quezon City</st1:City></st1:place>, Metro Manila, respectively. The IFFM gained media attention from Philippine national and local newspapers and TV channels.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM was also covered and accompanied by representatives of the Dutch media. The Dutch national broadcast company VPRO has devoted its radio broadcast to the extra judicial killings on Filipino lawyers and judges, on <st1:date year="2006" day="25" month="7" st="on">July 25, 2006</st1:date>, Channel 1 between <st1:time minute="0" hour="10" st="on">10.00-11.00 am</st1:time>.<a style="" href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Dutch national and local newspapers, legal magazines and (online) newsletters also paid attention to the IFFM.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <h1><a name="_Toc141246829"></a><a name="_Toc141177626"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">ABOUT THE </span></span></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB">PHILIPPINES</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <h2 style=""><a name="_Toc141246830"></a><a name="_Toc141177627"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Political System</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The new Philippine Constitution was ratified in 1987, signalling, according to the Philippine government, ‘the country’s return to democracy’.<a style="" href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The Constitution, based upon the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> system, entrenches the separation of the executive, legislative and judicial powers.<a style="" href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3 style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -0.35in;"><a name="_Toc141246831"></a><a name="_Toc141177628"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Executive branch</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>’ national government constitutes the executive branch and is headed by a President and a Vice-President who are elected directly by the people for a term of six years. The President, who is both head of government and chief of state and as such also the commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>, appoints the cabinet and a large number of other people in the bureaucracy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The Department of National Defence controls the AFP, which is primarily responsible for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, while the Department of the Interior and Local Government supervises the PNP, which has to enforce law and order. The Department of Justice must uphold the rule of law. To accomplish its mandate it must, <i style="">inter alia</i>, investigate the commission of crimes and prosecute offenders. It is also responsible for the Witness Protection Program established under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act [RA 6981]. The NBI is an attached investigative agency of the Department of Justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The nation’s provinces are grouped into 17 regions. Each province is headed by a governor and a vice-governor, both elected on four-year terms. Provinces comprise cities and municipalities, which are divided into districts, villages and communities called barangay.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Local officials, such as governors and mayors also have great political influence.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="NL"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3 style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -0.35in;"><a name="_Toc141246832"></a><a name="_Toc141177629"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Legislative branch</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The Congress functions as the legislative branch. It consists of a Senate (or Upper House) with 24 members and a House of Representatives (or Lower House) with a maximum of 250 members. Like the president, the senators are voted into office in nationwide elections for a six year-term. The members of the House of Representatives (usually called congressmen) are elected every three year by the citizens of the districts they represent.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3 style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -0.35in;"><a name="_Toc141246833"></a><a name="_Toc141177630"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Party List System</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Since the elections in May 1998, the members of the House of Representatives may also be elected through what is known as the party-list system, an innovative mechanism enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. One of the important principles of the party-list system is the need to give representation in Congress to the ‘marginalized and underrepresented’ sectors of the Philippine society, which lack well-defined political constituencies, adequate funding and vote gathering network, so as to give them a voice in the policy making process that is dominated by traditional politicians. To this end, the Party-List System Act [RA 7941] allocates 20% of the 250 seats for marginalized sectors including labourers, peasants, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women and youth. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <h3 style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -0.35in;"><a name="_Toc141246834"></a><a name="_Toc141177631"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Judicial branch</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN">The <span style="">Supreme Court of the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region></span> is the country's highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. In addition, the Supreme Court regulates the practice of law in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region>, promulgates rules on admission to the bar, and disciplines lawyers. The court consists of a Chief Justice and 14 associate judges. </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The judicial power is also vested in lower courts including the Court of Appeals, Regional and Municipal Trial Courts and special courts. All judges are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The armed forces maintain an autonomous military justice system. Military courts are under the authority of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the armed forces, who is also responsible for the prosecutorial function in the military courts. Military tribunals have jurisdiction over all active duty members of the AFP regarding military offences. However, civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.<a style="" href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3 style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -0.35in;"><a name="_Toc141246835"></a><a name="_Toc141177632"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.5.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Integrated Bar of the </span></span></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Philippines</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Membership of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is compulsory for lawyers (i.e. attorneys, judges, public prosecutors and other legal professionals) who wish to practice law in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. To be admitted to the IBP, candidates must pass an examination that is administered once every year.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3 style="margin-left: 27pt; text-indent: -0.35in;"><a name="_Toc141246836"></a><a name="_Toc141177633"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.1.6.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Legal Aid and Human Rights Lawyers</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">To ensure free legal assistance to the poor, the IBP as well as the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) in the Department of Justice provide for a Legal Aid Program. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In addition, there are so called ‘human rights lawyers’, ‘public interest lawyers’ or ‘people’s lawyers’ who also render professional legal services for free to the poor, but outside the context of these legal aid programs; not only because the latter cannot afford to pay legal fees, but also out of a personal commitment to support them in changing their social circumstances. In doing so, these lawyers are mainly involved in defending civil and political rights as well as cases with respect to social, economic and cultural rights. In this report these particular lawyers are referred to as human rights lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2><a name="_Toc141246837"></a><a name="_Toc141177634"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Human Rights and Social Justice</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> have signed and ratified almost all relevant international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPR. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">On <st1:date month="4" day="19" year="2006" st="on">April 19, 2006</st1:date> the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> presented its candidature to the new UN Human Rights council accompanied by a pledge on human rights. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The Philippines has an independent Commission on Human Rights composed of a Chairman and four Commissioners, appointed by the President, with various powers, including monitoring the government’s compliance with international treaty obligations on human rights and granting immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony or whose possession of evidence is necessary or convenient to determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it.<a style="" href="#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>(Principles of) human rights and social justice are also enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. On <st1:date month="6" day="24" year="2006" st="on">June 24, 2006</st1:date>, a law was signed abolishing the death penalty. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <h2><a name="_Toc141246838"></a><a name="_Toc141177635"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">2.3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Domestic Politics</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> has a multiparty system with numerous parties; therefore the Philippine governments usually are coalition governments. Next to the major traditional political parties – being parties of the elite - there are some minor parties represented in the House of Representatives. Most of these parties are elected through the party list system and include <span style=""> </span>Anakpawis, Bayan Muna<a style="" href="#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> and Gabriela Women’s party. The most popular party-list parties are generally left wing parties. Since 2001, Bayan Muna has been the leading party-list member in the House of Representatives.</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2><a name="_Toc141246839"></a><a name="_Toc141177636"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">2.4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Communist insurgencies and Islamic separation movement</span></span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The <st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region> faces one of <st1:place st="on">Asia</st1:place>’s longest-running communist insurgencies. Since 1969, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its military arm, the New People’s Army (NPA) have fought the existing government structure. The CPP-NPA’s political-diplomatic arm is the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).<a style="" href="#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Although the NDFP-CPP-NPA consider themselves as a broad political, revolutionary and liberation movement, the NPA was listed as a terrorist organization by the US, the European Union (EU) and other western countries in 2002.<a style="" href="#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Since 1992, the NDFP has been holding peace talks with the government of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Ten agreements have been signed between the two parties including the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). To oversee the implementation of this agreement by both sides, the parties have jointly appointed the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC). Although the JMC has not convened since the peace talks in 2004 were suspended, it has continued to register complaints about human rights violations.<a style="" href="#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">In Mindanao, the most southern archipel of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>, the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) strives for the creation of a Philippine Muslim nation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <h1 style=""><a name="_Toc141246840"></a><a name="_Toc141177637"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE </span></span></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB">PHILIPPINES</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246841"></a><a name="_Toc141177638"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">3.1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">The </span><span lang="NL">Arroyo</span></span></a><span style=""><span style=""><span style=""> Administration</span></span></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo first acceded to the presidency in 2001, after President Joseph Estrada was ousted in the People’s Power II,<a style="" href="#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> she has faced many serious challenges of her administration. The 2004 national elections in which Arroyo was re-elected as President, continued to <st1:personname productid="be a" st="on">be a</st1:PersonName> source of contention after allegations that she was linked to election fraud and corruption, putting her legitimacy on the line. The opposition to the Arroyo administration increased immensely throughout 2005, with ten members of her cabinet resigning in July of that year and an opposition motion launched by the political opposition to impeach the President, based upon fraud, corruption and serious violations on human rights and dozens of street rallies and congressional probes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Although President Arroyo denied these allegations and the opposition motion to impeachment was rejected in Congress, the political situation remained unstable, culminating in President’s Arroyo declaration of a State of national emergency on <st1:date month="2" day="24" year="2006" st="on">February 24, 2006</st1:date> under Presidential Proclamation 1017. This State of Emergency was allegedly declared on the basis of a ‘clear threat’ to the Republic caused by ‘a tactical alliance’ consisting of (i) ‘elements in the political opposition’ (ii) ‘authoritarians of the extreme Left represented by the NDFP-CPP-NPA’ and (iii) ‘the extreme Right, represented by military adventurists’ and ‘the press, having conspired ‘to bring down the President.’<a style="" href="#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Following the declaration of the State of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Emergency</st1:State></st1:place>, the PNP filed rebellion/insurrection charges on <st1:date month="2" day="27" year="2006" st="on">February 27, 2006</st1:date> against 51 top leaders of the CPP and other personalities, including six party-list representatives, allegedly involved in the attempt to overthrow President Arroyo.<a style="" href="#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The Arroyo administration’s readiness to use emergency powers measures to crack down on perceived political enemies, its repressive measures and the making of arrests without warrants have led to accusations addressing the administration of having dictatorial tendencies. Although the Supreme Court upheld President Arroyo’s power to declare a State of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Emergency</st1:State></st1:place> it also ruled that certain acts committed by government authorities under PP 1017 were illegal including the arrests without warrants of party-list members. This year, the Supreme Court also declared two other presidential directives unconstitutional.<a style="" href="#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Armed clashes between government forces and armed groups including Muslim separatists in <st1:place st="on">Mindanao</st1:place> and communist rebels of the NPA have also continued throughout Arroyo’s period of office. While peace talks with the Muslim separatists made some progress, the peace talks between the government and the NDFP were suspended in 2004. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">During these armed clashes, human rights violations including extrajudicial executions were reportedly committed. In its 2004 report, Amnesty International noted that not only suspected NPA members were subjected to extrajudicial executions, but ‘also at risk were members of leftist organizations’. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246842"></a><a name="_Toc141177639"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">3.2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Policy of Wiping out the NPA and Labeling</span></span></a><span style=""></span><span style=""></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The Arroyo administration is now intensifying its counter-insurgency program to finally put an end to the communist rebellion within two years. On <st1:date month="6" day="16" year="2006" st="on">June 16, 2006</st1:date>, the President declared an all-out war against the NPA by ordering to release P1 billion to the AFP and the PNP to finance their operations against the NPA. The government’s war against the communist insurgency is said to involve all sectors of society and would be fought in all fronts including military action and the prosecution of communist leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The government’s efforts against the communist insurgency are reportedly part of its counter-insurgency program under the name of ‘Oplan Bantay Laya’ that started in 2002 and allegedly equates the underground organizations of the CPP-NPA-NDFP with what it calls ‘sectoral front organizations’. In this regard, Filipino human rights organizations like KARAPATAN have also referred to the slide presentation ‘Knowing the Enemy’ and the book ‘Trinity of War’ produced by the AFP that identifies so-called front organizations of the NDFP-CPP-NPA. They not only identify legal left parties and organizations as such, but also lawyers’ groups including the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), media groups like the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and religious organizations such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">After ordering the budget secretary to release an extra P1 billion to crush the communist insurgency, Arroyo told her cabinet during its meeting on <st1:date month="6" day="17" year="2006" st="on">June 17, 2006</st1:date>, that “the fight against the left remains the glue that binds”. In a Statement of July 5, 2006, Arroyo announced that she would sign an executive order with the objective, among other objectives, to create a strong “PNP-AFP partnership against the left”.<a style="" href="#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">President Arroyo’s statements were followed by the disclosure of documents by the Philippine peasant organization (KMP), stating that intelligence units of the Armed Forces have been monitoring and preparing ‘Orders of Battle’ on sectoral groups alleged to be fronts of the communist underground. An order of battle is a list of enemies ranked according to their importance. The KMP reportedly submitted these documents to the Commission on Human Rights in the beginning of June, 2006. According to a KMP information officer, “the papers don’t say outright that members of sectoral groups are to be killed but they do use the term neutralize”.<a style="" href="#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The disclosure of these documents came in the wake of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez‘ reportedly warning that civilian supporters of the NPA may find themselves the target of military operations if they join the rebels in combat.<a style="" href="#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246843"></a><a name="_Toc141177640"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">3.3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Killings during the Arroyo administration</span></span></a><span style=""></span><span style=""></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Recently, the Arroyo administration has come under increasingly strong criticism from international and Filipino human rights organizations</span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> for the rising number </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">of killings of leftist activists. In May 2006, the Chair Purificacion Quisumbing of the Filipino Commission on Human Rights<a style="" href="#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> told the Inquirer that her group had received 143 reports of extrajudicial killings in 2005 up to March 2006 from human rights groups including KARAPATAN and party-list parties as Bayan Muna and Anakpawis.<a style="" href="#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[24]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Leftist groups charged that more than 93 of their political leaders and members have been killed in attacks since Arroyo assumed office in 2001, while KARAPATAN’s review of all activist slayings since then showed a record of 693 killings as of <st1:date month="7" day="11" year="2006" st="on">July 11, 2006</st1:date>. The victims are all unarmed civilians and non-combatants. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The increase of killings was confirmed by Amnesty International which in its 2006 report noted that “the number of attacks on leftist activists and community workers rose sharply, with at least 66 fatal shootings reported during <st1:metricconverter productid="2005”" st="on">2005”</st1:metricconverter>.<a style="" href="#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[25]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The 2005 <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> country report also noted an increase of killings of “community activists, church workers, lawyers, and members of leftist political parties, particularly the left-wing political party Bayan Muna”.<a style="" href="#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">It is feared that as a consequence of equating leftist groups with the armed rebellion in the context of the renewed counter insurgency campaign, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">the spate of political killings may further rise. In a statement of March 8, 2006, Amnesty International said: “There are now fears that repeated statements by senior government officials linking such organizations directly to communist armed groups, in addition to the recent arrests or threatened arrests of many of the congressional representatives of such organizations, threatens to create a climate within which further political killings may take place”.<a style="" href="#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In its 2006 report, Amnesty International also observed that the military’s labelling of activists in legal organizations as communists was one of the factors in the rise of the number of assassinations: “Increased killings in particular provinces were reportedly linked to the public labelling of leftist groups as NPA “front” organizations by local AFP commanders”. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">Apart from suspected members of the CPP-NPA, “those most at risk included members of legal leftist political parties, including Bayan Muna and Anakpawis, other human rights and community activists, priests, church workers and lawyers regarded by the authorities as sympathetic to the broader communist movement”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">According to Filipino human rights organizations such as KARAPATAN, the killings follow a pattern consisting of various elements one of which is the practice of labeling the victims as “members of the CPP/NPA”, “communists” or “enemies of the state” (Annex 7).<a style="" href="#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;"><br /> </span> <h1><a name="_Toc141246844"></a><a name="_Toc141177641"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">THE HARASSMENT AND KILLINGS OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">As pointed out by Amnesty International, lawyers and judges are among those most at risk to be assassinated. </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Since 2001, fifteen lawyers and ten judges were killed, the last one till now being Attorney (Atty.) Evelyn Guballa who was killed on June 21, <st1:metricconverter productid="2006 in" st="on">2006 in</st1:metricconverter> Quezon City, Manila. Atty. Guballa is the fourth lawyer to be killed this year. Reports of continuing threats and new cases of harassments against lawyers also appear.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">As previously pointed out, the IFFM focused its investigations on the harassment and killings of lawyers and judges. It looked specifically at the deaths of Pasay City Judge Henrick Gingoyon (<st1:date month="12" day="31" year="2005" st="on">December 31, 2005</st1:date>) and lawyers Norman Bocar in Samar (<st1:date month="9" day="1" year="2005" st="on">September 1, 2005</st1:date>), Felidito Dacut in Leyte (<st1:date month="3" day="14" year="2005" st="on">March 14, 2005</st1:date>), Arbet Yongco in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Cebu</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> (<st1:date month="10" day="11" year="2004" st="on">October 11, 2004</st1:date>) and Juvy Magsino in Mindoro Oriental (<st1:date month="2" day="13" year="2004" st="on">February 13, 2004</st1:date>).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM also investigated the threats being received by UN Justice at litem Romeo Capulong and lawyers Jobert Pahilga, Ernesto Peñaflor of Calbayog City, Gina Co, Kit Enriquez and Pergentino Deri-On jr.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">According to KARAPATAN and CODAL, the harassment and killings of lawyers and judges follow the same pattern as the other extrajudicial killings in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> and consists of the following elements:</span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 62.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(1)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The victims are either leaders or active members of militant<a style="" href="#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> parties or organizations or their lawyers or ordinary folk in areas where the AFP conduct internal security operations;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 62.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(2)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Prior to the attacks, victims are usually labelled by the military as members of the CPP/NPA, communists or enemies of the state;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 62.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(3)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Victims are usually subject to surveillance by the military and told to stop their political activities “or else…”. Many are warned that they are in the military’s ‘Order of Battle’.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 62.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(4)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Almost all assassinations are conducted by a team of motorcycle-riding men. The killers are either uniformed or not uniformed men with no nametags, sometimes wearing bonnet or ski-masks;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 62.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(5)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Even the most brutal atrocities hardly elicit any decisive action or condemnation from the government; and<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 62.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(6)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">All cases remain unsolved, creating a culture of impunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style=""><a name="_Toc141246845"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Investigation of a pattern</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM investigated the existence of such a pattern with respect to the above mentioned cases and came to the following observations. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3><a name="_Toc141246846"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Which lawyers and judges are victims?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Victims are so-called human rights lawyers involved in or judges presiding over (human rights) related cases and/or cases where the rights of the elite are at stake. A remarkable number of these lawyers and judges are also human rights workers and/or leftist political activists.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">All lawyers concerned are human rights lawyers. Judge Gingoyon had also served as a human rights lawyer before he became a judge. Next to his capacity as UN judge ad litem, Romeo Capulong still works as a human rights lawyer as well. They are all involved in pro-bono cases for – amongst others – farmers, workers, fishermen, indigenous people and political activists. Atty. Pahilga, for instance, is the counsel of the KMP or the Peasant Movement of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> and the fisher folk organization or Pamalakaya.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The majority is involved in high profile cases in which the rights of the elite are at stake. Judge Gingoyon presided over several controversial cases including the PIATco case, in which he had ordered the government to pay 62 million pesos to Philippine International Air Terminals Co (PIATco) - the builders of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 - after the government had taken over the terminal and rescinded the contract. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Attys. Capulong and Pahilga are both involved in representing the farm workers in Hacienda Luisita, in <st1:place st="on">Central Luzon</st1:place>, a large sugar estate owned by the family of the former President Corazon Aquino. Atty. Capulong is also the lead counsel for the so-called Batasan 6, the progressive party-list representatives in Congress who were charged with rebellion in relation to the <st1:date month="2" day="24" year="2006" st="on">24 February 2006</st1:date> alleged coup attempt. Atty. Pahilga represents Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano, also one of the Batasan 6. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Atty. Arbet Yongco was and Attys. Gina Co and Kit Enriquez are the private prosecutors in the parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., a member of a politically-powerful family.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">At least eight of the eleven individuals whose cases the IFFM looked at, were, before they were killed or still are also involved in human rights work. To name just a few by way of illustration: Atty. Magsino defended victims of mining, addressed the military and was actively involved in several fact-finding missions in the field of human rights; Atty. Yongco was also the legal director of Legal Alternatives for Women (Law Inc.) and Atty. Pergentino Deri-on serves as the Provincial Vice Chairperson of KATUNGOD, a human rights group. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">At least four of them were political active for one of the leftists groups: Atty. Magsino was the Vice-Mayor of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental and the Bayan Muna Party-list’s endorsed candidate for the post of city mayor; Atty. Dacut was the regional coordinator for the party-list group Bayan Muna; Atty Bocar was the regional chairman of the militant BAYAN, Eastern Visayas and Atty. Yongco was provincial coordinator of the party-list Abanse Pinay.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3><a name="_Toc141246847"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Are lawyers and judges labelled and if so, how or by whom and as what?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Prior to the attacks, some of these lawyers and judges were labelled as members or supporters of the CPP/NPA or its “front organizations” or as “enemies of the state”. Some of these lawyers have clients who are suspected NPA members or supporters. Some of them were warned to be in the military’s “order of battle” or on a so-called hit-list.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">At least seven lawyers were labelled by the military as member or supporter of the NPA or enemy of the state. Three lawyers were labelled as NPA member. Atty. Magsino was told by a journalist that she was tagged as NPA member by the military in the local media. Atty. Pahilga and Atty. Deri-on, both still alive, are labelled as supporters of the NPA as well. The underlying reason, according to both of them, is that they serve clients who are allegedly members of the NPA. Atty. Pahilga: “A lawyer will be labelled as NPA as soon as his clients are labelled as such”. <i style="">Ad litem</i> Judge Capulong and Atty. Pergentino Deri-on shared this view. Recently, Capulong was told by one of his clients who has a source within the army that members of a military unit, stationed nearby Capulongs home town, said about him : <b style="">“</b></span><strong><span style="line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB">He is really our enemy, he is just creating trouble."</span></strong><b style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Attys. Bocar and Dacut were warned that they were on the military’s hit-list. Atty. Dacut told Atty. Penaflor 13 days before he was killed, that he was on the list. Atty. Penaflor himself has also been informed that he is on the military hit-list. Atty. Penaflor has no doubt that this information is correct. He considers his source, who has direct connections within the army,<span style=""> </span>very reliable. Due to security reasons, however, he cannot reveal his source. Atty. Deri-on was also warned by many people to be careful: “You better be careful, I heard somebody will harm you”, and “You are among those listed; You are in the order of battle”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <h3><a name="_Toc141246848"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Are lawyers and judges threatened and/or subjected to surveillance?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">They have all been threatened. Many were warned to stop with their work as human rights lawyer or with a specific case or other activities “or else…”. They are often subjected to surveillance by the (para)military, “vigilantes” or alleged members of death squads. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">All eleven lawyers, including Judge Gingoyon were or are continuously threatened. They are mostly threatened by means of text messages, letters or phone calls.<a style="" href="#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Other forms of harassment are – amongst others - the surveillance of the lawyers’ houses and offices by men on motorcycles, tailing and tapping of cell phones.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Attys. Gina Co and Kit Enriquez both received threatening text messages. Two other members of their prosecution panel are threatened as well. Atty. Enriquez is convinced that the threats he received in 2005 were coming from Ecleo’s family and the family’s defence counsel.<a style="" href="#_ftn31" name="_ftnref31" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[31]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Attys. Co and Enriquez both knew that their predecessor in that case, Atty. Yongco, also received threats. A week before she was killed, her house was under surveillance daily by men on a motorbike. She was also followed by them. The IFFM was informed that these men belonged to a death squad, called the ‘white eagle’, which is considered to be the private death squad of the Ecleo family. This death squad is apparently known and capable of shooting.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Atty. Magsino received threatening text messages as well. She also received twice a box with a black ribbon with a message therein that she would soon die: In November 2003, the message said that she would not be alive anymore at Christmas and on the 13<sup>th</sup> of February 2004, the day she was killed, she received a ‘happy valentine’ message, indicating that she would not be alive anymore on February 15<sup>th</sup>. Earlier she received threats warning her that she should stop working for human rights organizations including KARAPATAN and that she should not participate in fact-finding missions anymore. Atty. Magsino was also under surveillance of the military. At the end of <st1:metricconverter productid="2003, a" st="on">2003, a</st1:metricconverter> documentary was broadcasted on local television in which it was shown that Atty. Magsino and her team were followed by the military. Atty. Magsino’s friends only warned her to be careful; they could not do much more: they were all threatened themselves as well. The KARAPATAN office in <st1:place st="on">Mindoro</st1:place> was closed down during that time due to threats as well. Atty. Magsino was sure that she was threatened by the military. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Judge Gingoyon was continuously threatened when he worked as a human rights lawyer. After his ten-year old daughter was attacked and their house was riddled, the family moved to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Manila</st1:City></st1:place>, where he became a judge after he worked as a public prosecutor for 10 years. When his wife asked him whether he was still in danger as a judge, Judge Gingoyon answered: “We judges walk with one foot only, the other one is under the ground”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Atty. Deri-On has received threats since he has served as the legal counsel of clients allegedly members of the NPA. On <st1:date month="5" day="4" year="2005" st="on">May 4, 2005</st1:date> his two cars were burned. A witness saw how two men in civilian clothes, but driving around in a military vehicle, burned down the cars (they brought their own jerry-cans).<span style=""> </span>Atty. Deri-On was informed that the Operations Region Intelligence Unit of the Military was responsible for this act. Atty. Deri-On’s neighbours told him how they saw that two days before this incident with his cars, his house was under military surveillance. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In May 2006, Atty. Pahilga was told by his neighbours and bystanders that<span style=""> </span>two men on a motorcycle, wearing jackets and sunglasses, and looking like military men with a military hair cut, had been looking for Pahilga and his family’s house. They had asked them for Pahilga’s schedule, specifically of the time that he leaves and arrives at home. According to his neighbours, the said persons told them that they wanted Pahilga to handle their case. Since then, two men on a motorcycle have continuously tailed on him in his neighbourhood and in his court hearings. A source from inside the military confirmed to Pahilga that the men tailing him are from <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placename st="on">Magsaysay</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> in Nueva Ecija under the tutelage of General J. Palparan jr. This source also told him that aside the monitoring of his movements, his cellphone activity was likewise being monitored. These last weeks, Pahilga has noticed that he’s being watched.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">At least two family members of lawyers who were killed, have been threatened afterwards. One of them was warned not to attend the next hearing in the criminal case of the killed lawyer concerned. Another family member told us that his family has not been threatened directly although being threatened is “normal”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3><a name="_Toc141246849"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">How are lawyers and judges killed and what is the killer’s profile?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Almost all assassinations were carried out by two unidentified men on a motorbike without licence plate. The killings are shooting incidents with a hit-and-run character committed at any given time and place, even in broad day light. Given the “visibility” of the killings, the killers seem to be very self confident in getting away with it.</span></i><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Attys Magsino, Yongco, Bocar, Dacut and Gingoyon were all killed in a hit-and-run shooting incident: they were gunned down by unidentified men, mostly on a motorbike, after which the killer(s) disappeared. If the killers were in a team, the men on the back was doing the shooting. Attys. Magsino, Dacut and Gingoyon were all three killed on public places were many witnesses could have been present. Judge Gingoyon was killed during the middle of the day. Atty. Dacut was killed in the main street of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Tacloban</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on a busy crossroad downtown. Only Atty. Yongco was killed inside her house.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <h3><a name="_Toc141246850"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.5.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">What have the authorities been doing?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The police hardly acts upon reported threats or requests for protection. Family members of slain lawyers consider the information by the authorities about the criminal cases insufficient. The authorities have not provided satisfactory information with respect to the slow hand<st1:personname st="on">lin</st1:PersonName>g of these cases. Until recently, the authorities have not at all condemned the attacks and killings publicly. Until recently, the authorities have not taken special measures to address the killings. The authorities seem to consider themselves quite helpless due to the limited technical/forensic capabilities, the lack of witnesses or because they are dependent on other authorities before they can act.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h4><a name="_Toc141246851"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">(i)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Reported crimes or requests for protection and the filing of complaints</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Only a few </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">lawyers and family members of slain lawyers who were threatened before they were killed or who are still threatened reported this to the police and asked for protection, but to no avail. Only Judge Capulong got at one stage protection from the local police. The majority, however, did not trust the police or thought that it would come to nothing. One lawyer wrote (together with two other lawyers) a formal letter to the Chief of the police to ask for protection. The police declined their request by merely saying that it could only act in case of an “imminent threat”, even though the police was informed that many people involved were already killed and the lawyers concerned were continuously followed by men on motorbikes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In the cases of Attys. Magsino, Dacut and Bocar, complaints for violation of the CARHRIHL were filed before the GRP-NDFP Joint Monitoring Committee in June 2004, June 2005 and January 2006, respectively. These cases have not yet been discussed by the JMC. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">At least one lawyer, Atty. Pahilga, filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights. The Commission addressed the issue in various reports it issued.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h4><a name="_Toc141246852"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">(ii)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Information about the investigation and prosecution of the murder cases</span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In all cases where a lawyer was killed, the police have carried out an investigation, but it is unclear to what extent. Family members of the lawyers who were killed have only been heard once by the police. In all cases, family members have not been informed by the police about the investigation at all. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In the case of Attys.Yongco, Magsino and Gingoyon, court cases are pending. The legal proceedings are progressing slowly. Family members do not trust that the proceedings will lead to any results. They all believe that there is a mastermind behind the assassinations, but that the authorities prefer to ignore this. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h4><a name="_Toc141246853"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">(iii)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Condemnation and measures</span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="line-height: 130%;">Department of Interior and Local Government and PNP<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V Puno, however, stressed to the IFFM that respect for human rights are enshrined in the laws and policies of the Philippines. The series of assassinations of Party List members, journalists and other high-risk personalities for the past five years “has drawn great concern by the government”, so that “no less than the President (…) ordered that these extra-judicial killings be thoroughly investigated and eventually be stopped”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="">Task Force USIG<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">On <st1:date year="2006" day="13" month="5" st="on">May 13, 2006</st1:date>, Mr Puno ordered, therefore, the creation of a Task Force, known as ‘Task Force USIG’ to investigate the “unsolved killings” of party list members and media personalities as of 2001. The Task force is headed by the PNP and “primarily takes charge of the over-all case management” of the investigations of these cases. The most important role of the task force is to create a special data base concerning the spate of killings. The Task Force must also submit a complete report within 72 hours after an attack on members of the media, leftist groups and governmental officials.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM welcomes the President’s order for investigation and ‘to leave no stone unturned in probe into rash of killings’.<a style="" href="#_ftn32" name="_ftnref32" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[32]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was informed by Mr. Puno that based on an analysis of the cases of murdered party-list members and newsmen, Task Force USIG identified at least three groups that could behind the killings, namely, “the CPP/NPA”, “military and police personnel” and “possible destabilizing forces” (Annex 8).</span><a style="" href="#_ftn33" name="_ftnref33" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[33]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Nevertheless, the PNP probe team reportedly had stated that it had yet to see a pattern of military involvement in the killings. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In addition, the IFFM was informed by members of the House of Representatives that security officials, PNP-CIDG head Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza and Task Force USIG head Police Director Avelino Razon in particular, claimed that the killings are part of a purge of communists ranks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">According to Lower House representatives Teodoro A. Casiño, Satur C. Ocampo, Joel G. Virador, Crispin B. Beltran, Liza L. Maza and Rafael V. Mariano, “several high ranking government officials, notably Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales have joined Director Razon in blaming the CPP/NPA, and even the party-list and mass organizations themselves, for the killings”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Considering such prejudgments by high-ranking police officials and officials of the Executive Branch, these representatives feel that “an objective and impartial investigation of the political killings under a body created by the Executive Branch is not possible” so that “there is an urgent need to constitute a credible and truly independent body to investigate the killings” and “formulate recommendations to stop the atrocities”. These Six representatives have also issued a joint resolution in this regard with concrete proposals to the establishment and functioning of such an independent body including its mandate, powers, composition and appointment of the members (Annex 9).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM notes that the PNP probe team’s alleged statement in combination with the security officials claims, not only has undermined the trust of the above mentioned representatives, but also human rights organizations including KARAPATAN in Task Force USIG’s formation and performance. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Since its creation, Task Force USIG has recorded a total of 114 party list members slain since 2001, according to Mr. Puno. Out of this total, 27 cases have been filed in court and the remaining 86 are still under investigation. Out of the 27 cases filed in court, the PNP has arrested suspects in three cases.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was also informed by Mr. Puno that “Based on records, the CPP/NPA is suspected to be involved in at least fifteen (15) killings of party list members.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Given the poor results of the last five years, the IFFM considers it quite remarkable what Task Force USIG was able to realize within one month, especially taking into account the involvement of eye-witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="">Task Force Judges, Public Prosecutors and IBP-Lawyers<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was further informed by General Marcelo S. Ele jr. of the PNP that on January 17, 2006, also a ‘Task Force Judges, Prosecutors and IBP Lawyers’ was established (Annex 10).<a style="" href="#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[34]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The Task Force has reportedly regional counterparts in order to streamline its coordinating and supportive tasks with regard to the local police conducting the investigations. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Although the IFFM appreciates the existence of a special task force for the investigation of the killings of judges, public prosecutors and IBP-lawyers, it was surprised to learn about its creation, for the following reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Interior and Local Government Secratery Puno told the IFFM that he has never been aware of a pattern of killings of lawyers and judges in his country. Only recently, Mr. Puno noted allegations of such patterns regarding political activists, journalists and “this is a third wave of such allegations, now regarding lawyers”. He acknowledged, however, that lawyers have been killed, such as Attys. Magsino and Bocar, who were “actively involved in militant groups”.<span style=""> </span>When the IFFM discussed the USIG Task Force, Mr. Puno promised to specifically add to the competence of the Task Force USIG the investigation into the killing of lawyers, while not making any reference to the Task Force Judges, Public Prosecutors and IBP-Lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The PNP did not mention this new task force in its letter to its Department of Foreign Affairs on <st1:date year="2006" day="28" month="2" st="on">February 28, 2006</st1:date> regarding the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers letter about the killings of lawyers and judges of <st1:date year="2006" day="7" month="2" st="on">February 7, 2006</st1:date> (Annex 11).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">None of the other individuals, official agencies or organizations the IFFM spoke with during its mission mentioned this task force and when asked about it, none appeared to be familiar with it, including the Integrated Bar of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was not able to find the founding documents of the Task Force as referred to in a power point presentation that it received from General Marcelo S. Ele jr. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Asked about the division of labor between the two task forces, General Ele explained to the IFFM that when a judge, prosecutor or lawyer is killed, the case will automatically be transferred to the Task Force Judges, Prosecutors and IBP Lawyers. According to General Ele, those cases are “relatively easy” since they are “work-related or not work-related.” However, when lawyers are identified as Party list members, such as Atty. Magsino and Atty. Bocar, the case gets a new angle and, therefore, falls under the scope of Task Force USIG. According to General Ele, those cases are “more complex” and require a “different handling” because “the CPP/NPA is involved in the killings of party list members”. Documents reportedly seized by the Southern Luzon Command of the AFP apparently revealed this involvement.<a style="" href="#_ftn35" name="_ftnref35" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[35]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> In fact, the only reason why party list members are separated in USIG is because the killings against them are allegedly committed “by the NPA, the armed forces or the police”. However, according to General Ele, both Task Forces are working closely together.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="line-height: 130%;">NBI and PNP, <st1:placename st="on">Tacloban</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Although cases are now apparently distributed to one of the two above mentioned task forces, the actual investigations are still conducted by the local police. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The cases of Attys. Dacut and Bocar, for instance, are both dealt with by the NBI and/or the PNP of <st1:placename st="on">Tacloban</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place>. The PNP, Tacloban City Police Office (hereinafter referred to as: ‘PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place>’) created its own task forces: ‘Task Force Dacut’ and ‘Task Force Bocar’ to lead the investigations. In the mean time, the case of Atty. Dacut was transferred to the NBI in <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> upon Atty. Dacut’s widow’s request.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Both the NBI and the PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> pointed out that the killing of Atty. Dacut was not the only human rights case in their region. Given their common features, there were eight similar human right-related cases in one year’s time, according to Mr. Remigio C. Lavilla, Special Investigator III of NBI-EVFO, committed by “the same group or persons”: It were all shooting incidents with the same shooting style, most of the time committed by two man on motorcycles, at times wearing masks or helmets. The other seven victims were not all lawyers, but – amongst others – also church workers. <span style=""> </span>Mr. Lavilla considered the cases as political killings: “All victims are members or related to organizations who are critical to the government.” Many people believe that the military are behind the political killings,<a style="" href="#_ftn36" name="_ftnref36" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[36]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> including Atty. Dacut’s widow. According to Mr. Lavilla those people link the killings in particular with the assignment of General Jovito S. Palparan jr in the region, but reportedly there is still no proof for such a connection.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> informed the IFFM that all these case were still under investigation. It had no information at all about these investigations, however, since: “All cases are distributed in the field to local police offices.”<span style=""> </span>Asked whether they should not monitor and co-ordinate those eight cases, given their similarities, the PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> pointed out that they could only exchange information when requested by the local PNP offices. Till now, the local PNP offices had not come up with a pattern, nor with any witnesses. Last month, the updates of the cases were compared for the first time. The PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> also referred to Task Force USIG, the nationwide Task Force, formed in May 2006, to investigate the party-list killings.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="Opmaakprofiel"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The NBI acknowledged that </span><span lang="NL">there</span><span style=""> was no specific lead in the Dacut Case. In this regard, Mr. Lavilla explained to the IFFM that the NBI is undermanned: “there are only eight investigators for the whole area”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> on the other hand, said that the Task Force Dacut alone consisted of ten people who had worked more or less full time on the Dacut case, before it was transferred to the NBI. Nevertheless, the PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> ‘is still facing a blank wall even up to this point in time insofar as the identity of the killers and its motives are concerned’.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a style="" href="#_ftn37" name="_ftnref37" title=""><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[37]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Asked about the investigations in the Dacut case, the NBI nor the PNP could hardly come up with any concrete results. Taking into account that the investigations have been carried out for fifteen months and almost one year, respectively, the files shown to the IFFM were also remarkably thin. Various ballistic examinations carried out by the PNP Crime Laboratory were for instance, reportedly still in progress, possible threatening text messages or telephone numbers from persons who phoned Atty. Dacut on his cell phone had not been traced yet, because that contained “a lot of work” and a drawing of the killer, based upon an eye-witness’ testimony, was not made public, but only sent to some other offices. Moreover, both the PNP and the NBI thought that Atty. Dacut’s cell phone was in the possession of the local police, which initially carried out the investigation. As it turned out, however, the local police said not to know that Atty. Dacut had a cell phone. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The NBI and the PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> both pointed out that it was also difficult to get results due to the lack of witnesses. The case of Atty. Bocar, for instance, remains unsolved ‘because the two witnesses in that case were unwilling to co-operate and even in hiding for unknown reasons’. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="line-height: 130%;">Armed Forces of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="NL">During</span><span style=""> its meeting with the IFFM, the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the AFP explained that the military criminal justice system only applies to members of the armed forces allegedly committing military crimes, i.e. in state of war. With respect to all other crimes committed by members of the armed forces, the PNP is competent to investigate. Since the killings are criminal acts falling under the jurisdiction of the PNP, resolving the killings is the responsibility of the PNP. The AFP stressed that there is as yet no case in which a member of the AFP has been charged for or suspected of commiting the killings, otherwise they would have been informed about it by the PNP. They are aware of allegations that the military are behind the cases, but these allegations are strongly denied. When asked by the IFFM whether the AFP has conducted an investigation within its own forces with respect to these allegations, the Judge Advocate General answered that “If I read in the newspaper that in Mindanao a member of the AFP might be involved in a murder case, I would immediately call my own people in Mindanao to investigate this”.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was further told that the situation with respect to the killings of lawyers and judges was “not so alarming as assumed in the newspapers,” because “there are many lawyers in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The IFFM should also have in mind that “clients simply want to see their lawyers fighting outside the courtroom as well.” Judges, according to the JAG, were also killed in relation to corruption and bad decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="line-height: 130%;">Department of Justice <o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The Chief State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice, Hon. Jovencito R. Zuño, explained to the IFFM that his department could not do much about the killings as long as the NBI, the investigative branch of the Department of Justice, does not hand over a case to the prosecutors. The Prosecution may not start investigations on its own initiative and it has no involvement in preliminary investigations conducted by the PNP or the NBI. Neither does it have the power to instruct the NBI as to whether a case should be turned over or not; only the Secretary of Justice has the authority to do so.<span style=""> </span>When the IFFM spoke to the Hon. Jovencito R. Zuño, he was not familiar with pending murder cases of killed lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="line-height: 130%;">Supreme Court<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban of the Supreme Court explained to the IFFM that the Court’s possibilities to do something about the killings, were also limited, as long as none of these cases have been filed in Court. In addition, the Supreme Court should stay independent in general, since, in the end, it may have to decide in cases against the perpetrators of the killings. It should at all times remain independent of the government and the police, so that it cannot be “too pushy” to the authorities in this regard. Since the Court has no police power, it cannot carry out its own investigations. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The Chief Justice, however, welcomed the international concern about the situation in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. He noted that lawyers, including judges, were maltreated and that nine judges had been killed during the administration of President Arroyo. The security of lawyers, including judges to him were of great concern. For this reason he had installed a committee on the security of judges on <st1:date month="1" day="3" year="2006" st="on">January 3, 2006</st1:date>. The committee has three goals: (1) to bring justice; 2) to prevent the killings of judges; and (3) to provide social, psychological, and financial support to the family members of judges who were killed. To reach the first aim the Court seeks to raise money that can be used as rewards for arresting the alleged perpetrators. For measures taken in order to prevent the killings, the Supreme Court receives assistance from, amongst others, various special security officers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In the mean time, on <st1:date month="7" day="3" year="2006" st="on">July 3, 2006</st1:date>, during a visit of Mr. Panganiban to the <st1:country-region st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region>, the President of the Dutch Supreme Court, Mr. W.J.M. Davids, expressed his concern about the killings of lawyers and judges in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> to his colleague. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="line-height: 130%;">Commission on Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Recently, the Philippine Commission on Human Rights made a strong public statement with respect to the killings. On <st1:date month="5" day="22" year="2006" st="on">May 22, 2006</st1:date>, the CHR Chair Purificiacion Quisumbing stated that the government must be held accountable for the killings of activists and journalists, whether or not military or police personnel were involved. According to the CHR, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the people’s right to life, property, security of homes and public order.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The Commission on Human Rights has conducted investigations </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">relating to the systematic killings committed against unsuspecting victims including members of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Party list and other allied organizations on the basis of complaints it received and on its own initiative. Its conclusions were laid down in a report of <st1:date month="7" day="8" year="2006" st="on">July, 8, 2006</st1:date>.<a style="" href="#_ftn38" name="_ftnref38" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[38]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> </span><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In its report, </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">the Commission on Human Rights “totally detests these inhuman practice of summary execution committed against our helpless brothers especially those who belong to Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabrie<st1:personname productid="la Party" st="on">la Party</st1:PersonName> list and other allied organizations”. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">It furthermore called on the government, especially the PNP, DND and the AFP, to conduct investigations regarding these killings and to report violations covering the same. It further asked these law enforcers to furnish copies of the said investigations to the Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h4><a name="_Toc141246854"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">(iv)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Problems with building up cases</span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">According to </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">General Marcelo S. Ele jr. of the PNP, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">solving cases was hampered by the fact that the forensic capability and technology in the Philippines was not yet efficient ‘so that it cannot stand alone as evidence in the absence of eye-witnesses’. Since hardly any witnesses come forward, cases are often ordered dismissed due to lack of evidence or they do not even reach the prosecution stage. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Recently, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">the PNP put the blame fully on the unwillingness of witnesses to co-operate. In its letter of <st1:date month="2" day="28" year="2006" st="on">February 28, 2006</st1:date> to the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation, the PNP wrote that it was willing to take appropriate action in the killings of lawyers “provided that the witnesses shall come out in the open to testify against the suspects”. However, “no one surfaced as witness to the killings”. The PNP further added that: “The unwillingness of those persons, who may have personal knowledge to testify, <i style="">unnecessarily</i> caused undue delay in the prosecution of the case as well as further delay in the administration of justice”</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> .<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The Commission on Human Rights confirmed that one reason that investigations have been closed is the lack of information “due to refusal of witnesses and family members to shed light and furnish details on the “incident”. The Commission stressed, however, that the refusal of witnesses and family members to come forward is “for fear of their own lives”, while “some have even gone to the extent of transferring residence in order to avoid whatever repercussions the incident may cause them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The Department of Justice also pointed to the lack of cooperation by witnesses: “As usually is the case in such crimes which involve the use of firearms, witnesses are coerced into silence and are afraid to come out and testify publicly. We are willing to place witnesses under the care of the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice, but their lack of cooperation has hampered the investigation” (Annex 12).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">During the mission, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">General Ele</span><span style="line-height: 130%;"> <span lang="EN-GB">told the IFFM that witnesses are not willing to co-operate for fear of revenge of the accused or the relatives of the accused. According to him, witnesses are not afraid of the governmental institutions, but there is, however, “a general fear for revenge by the NPA”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">None of the lawyers and family members of slain lawyers the IFFM spoke to, told the IFFM that they had not co-operated out of fear for revenge by the NPA. Victims and family members of slain lawyers and judges, however, told the IFFM not to co-operate with the police and the military out of distrust and fear for these institutions. In one case, the IFFM was informed that witnesses of a killing told the family of the slain victim concerned that the police had asked them to sign a different statement than the one made by them. Initially, four men were arrested and subsequently released. The eye-witnesses who might have been able to identify the killers, however, were not confronted with the four men who were arrested initially. Later on, five other men were arrested. Although these men were not identified as the killers by the witnesses, the court case against those men is still pending.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The Commission on Human Rights and the NBI Leyte also confirmed that witnesses don’t speak up out of fear for the military or the police. The Commission on Human Rights even said: “there is a culture of fear”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM also addressed the issue to a number of members of the Minority in the House of Representatives. They all shared the view that a lack of witnesses is one reason that explains why the police cannot build up a case.<span style=""> </span>According to them, the local police may lack the authority to get witnesses, for instance because the local officials cannot protect them and they may not be supported by their higher authorities. Witnesses may also be afraid or they may find it a waste of time to co-operate because they do not believe that there will be any result. In addition, the members of Parliament concerned also pointed out that local police officers may lack the means to build up a case and sometimes there is “no moral drive to go into the case”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM shares the Commission on Human Rights’ view that the non-availability of witnesses is not an excuse to leave the current situation as it is. The government authorities concerned should also look into the reason why witnesses are afraid to come forward and, even more important, what should be done to improve the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">To improve the situation, the Commission, considers it necessary to offer witnesses a better protection. In theory, the Commission may constitute its own Witness Protection Program separately from the Department of Justice. However, this requires additional funding. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In order to tackle impunity, General Ele also suggested measures to enhance the current Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice, including the institution of financial rewards and the provision of security protection by means of body guards, fire arms etc. The best protection, according to Ele, would be to bring witnesses to safe houses inside the military camps. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The members of Parliament, however, made it very clear to the IFFM that as long as witnesses have no trust in the authorities or in the state’s judicial system, they won’t come forward to testify nor apply for a Witness Protection Program that is carried out by the same authorities </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">they do not trust.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h3><a name="_Toc141246855"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.1.6.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">What are the results of the criminal investigations?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in;"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">To this date no killers of lawyers and judges have been convicted. The fact that cases remain unsolved, creates a culture of impunity. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The IFFM sometimes had the impression that the PNP considers a case as solved as soon as the perpetrators in certain cases are allegedly identified. Fact is, however, that none of the cases have been solved: to this date, no killers of lawyers and judges have been convicted.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">According to various International and Filipino human rights organizations including Amnesty International, KARAPATAN and the Philippine Commission on Human Rights the current situation equals a situation of impunity. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In its 2006 report, Amnesty International noted that: “A climate of impunity shielding the perpetrators of such killings deepened as ineffective investigations failed to lead to the prosecution of those responsible”. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In its 2005 Human Rights Report, KARAPATAN noted that: “The action or lack of action of the Arroyo regime on this issue leads to a culture of impunity that engenders the increase in human rights violations”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">CHR Chair Quisumbing said: “We strongly condemn the spate of killings that have yet to be resolved (…)if several deaths happened in just a week, this constitutes a pattern of impunity”.<a style="" href="#_ftn39" name="_ftnref39" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB">[39]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">As set out before, the IFFM was told by several lawyers and family members of killed lawyers that they lack any trust in the way the authorities are dealing with the investigation and prosecution of the murder cases concerned.. For some of them it was enough reason not to let them be represented by lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246856"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">4.2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">By whom are lawyers and judges killed and why?</span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">International and Filipino human rights organizations have indicated that the armed forces of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> are involved in the spate of killings committed during the Arroyo administration.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">In its 2006 report, Amnesty International noted that “</span><span style="line-height: 130%;">most of the attacks were carried out by unidentified assailants on motorcycles, at times wearing face masks, who were often described as ‘vigilantes’ or hired killers allegedly linked to AFP members”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">According to the Commission on Human Rights, the ‘pattern of complaints’ that were addressed to the Commission showed </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">that “most of the perpetrators are perceived to belong to the military and/or paramilitary arms of the government.” The CHR told the IFFM also about the perception that there is a cloud of impunity and complicity of the PNP in many human rights-related cases.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Most of the lawyer victims and family members of killed lawyers informed the IFFM that they also suspect the military to play a role in the harassment and the killings of lawyers and judges.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Leftist groups have pointed to Major General Jovito S. Palparan jr.<a style="" href="#_ftn40" name="_ftnref40" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[40]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> as the main tormentor of activists. KARAPATAN and Bayan had noted that the killings of activists increased wherever Palparan was assigned. This was confirmed by the Commission on Human Rights to the IFFM.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was told that </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Atty. Magsino started to receive threatening text messages after she had a meeting with General Palparan. In addition, Atty. Deri-on told the IFFM that he</span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">had a meeting with General Jovito S. Palparan jr. in June 2005. The meeting was convened because the members of his human rights group received threats on a large scale. During this meeting General Palparan warned him to stop handling cases for alleged NPA members. He said: “If you have to choose between your life and that of your clients, I presume you will choose for your own”.</span><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">The Commission on Human Rights informed the IFFM that it is conducting an investigation into Major General Palparan. The latter was nevertheless recently promoted again by President Arroyo. It is feared that the Arroyo administration’s promotion of Palparan might be encouraging more extrajudicial killings in the countryside.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Some House Representatives the IFFM spoke to said that even though the Arroyo administration may not direct the killings, it is at least endorsing the killings so as ‘to silence the political opposition’. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Many leftist groups are seen as fronts of the communist insurgency and have long been at the forefront of efforts to oust President Arroyo. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">In light of this, the Arroyo administration’s all-out war against the NPA is also seen as a further “invitation” to kill.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In a joint resolution, Representatives Teodoro A. Casiño, Satur C. Ocampo, Joel G. Virador, Crispin B. Beltran, Liza L. Maza and Rafael V. Mariano noted that: “the frenzy of political killings is also widely perceived to be the handiwork of state security forces pursuant to a state policy of silencing political dissent in order to keep the Arroyo administration in power in view of lingering questions over its legitimacy.”</span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">T</span><span style="line-height: 130%;">he AFP, however, strongly denies the allegations that the military would be behind the killings. In its meeting with the IFFM, the AFP pointed out that “everyone uses it as an excuse that the armed forces are behind the killings”: However, “military uniforms can be bought everywhere in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>”, so “everyone can do it”; besides, there is also “discharged personnel”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">High ranking governmental officials claim that the communist guerrillas may have committed some of the killings as part of an internal purge, but the communists have denied this. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Lawyers and family members of slain lawyers told the IFFM that they are convinced that the harassment and killings of human rights lawyers are directly related to both their work as human rights lawyers and, if applicable, their other activities as, for instance, human rights worker or (political) activist. The common feature of these activities is that they all are critical of governmental policies or programs or for another reason inconvenient to the ruling elite. Atty. Pahilga, for instance, is not a member of a political party. He has been threatened, however, since his involvement in the high profile case of the workers in Hacienda Luisita, owned by the family of Corazon Aquino and since he represents </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano, one of the so-called Batasan 6. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <h2 style="margin-left: 0.55in; text-indent: -0.55in;"><a name="_Toc141246857"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">4.3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Can human rights lawyers continue to conduct their legal profession?</span></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">All lawyers the IFFM spoke to, were very determined not to give up their work as a human rights lawyer. However, they all acknowledged that the continued threats and harassment hampered their work and that it became increasingly difficult to carry out their legal profession. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">Atty. Pahilga, for instance, informed the IFFM that the harassment and surveillance had affected not only his work but also his family: “I am now living like a drifter, staying and moving from one place to another. I seldom go home to see my family or to report to the office”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <h1><a name="_Toc141246858"></a><a name="_Toc141177642"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">5.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">CONCLUSIONS</span></span></a><span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">“This government lives by the rule of law and the democratic process”, said Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye in his Statement of <st1:date month="5" day="17" year="2006" st="on">May 17, 2006</st1:date>. “We are proud of our human rights record.”<a style="" href="#_ftn41" name="_ftnref41" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;">[41]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">To this date, the Arroyo administration rejects national and international criticism on its human rights record, by simply referring to its democratic institutions and human rights treaties, laws and policies.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">On paper, the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> is indeed a republic with democratic institutions including an elected President and separate executive, legislative and judicial branches. It has an independent Commission on Human Rights and respect for human rights principles are enshrined in its 1987 Constitution, laws and policies. The <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> have also signed and ratified almost all relevant international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Nevertheless, since 2001, fifteen lawyers and ten judges have been killed in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> as well as almost 700 other individuals including members of leftist groups, journalists, priests, church-workers, human rights defenders, laborers and farmers. All were unarmed citizens. None of the killers has been convicted. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Taking into account that all democratic institutions are formally in place, the IFFM considers the situation especially alarming. This makes it abundantly clear that either the constitutional state does not function properly or that there are powers undermining its proper functioning. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Based on the foregoing, the IFFM has reached the following conclusions:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">1. Human rights lawyers and judges in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> are increasingly threatened, intimidated and killed as a consequence of which they encounter more and more difficulties in carrying out their legal profession. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">2. The harassment and killings of members of the legal profession undermine the rule of law and the faith in (the function of) the judiciary system and the independence of judges and lawyers in particular. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">3. There is a pattern in the harassment and killings of human rights lawyers and judges, which must be seen in the light of other killings in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> including the killings of members of leftist groups, which has been more fully explained in the previous pages.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">4. </span><span style="line-height: 130%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-GB">The</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 130%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span style="line-height: 130%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-GB">primary duty of the Government is to protect the life of the people, including lawyers and judges. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;">The Arroyo administration, however, has hardly done anything to address the extrajudicial killings effectively. In particular it has neither responded seriously to strong allegations that its own security forces are involved in the killings nor has it taken effective measures to improve the poor record of prosecutions of the perpetrators. So far, Task Force USIG has not proven to be an independent body: It is chaired by the PNP which has a poor record as far as the effective investigation of the killings is concerned and which is mistrusted by the Philippine people. Furthermore, </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">the Arroyo administration</span><span style="line-height: 130%;"> has not condemned the killings publicly and in strong terms.</span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">5. This lack of an effective response of the Arroyo administration has led to a culture of impunity in which even more killings and human rights violations may take place.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">6. Consequently, this culture of impunity has further diminished the people’s faith in the functioning of the constitutional state and the system of law culminating in a climate in which, for instance, lawyers and judges consider it “part of their job” to be threatened and in which witnesses of killings do not cooperate with the police or the public prosecutor out of fear or because they find it a waste of time as it comes to nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;"><br /> </span> <h1><a name="_Toc141246859"></a><a name="_Toc141177643"><span style=""><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">6.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">RECOMMENDATIONS</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The Philippine government is under the obligation to take steps to ensure the compliance with human rights and the right to life in particular. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">In other to stop the killings, the threats and harassment of lawyers and judges, the IFFM calls on the government: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;">1.<span style=""> </span>to condemn the killings publicly and in strong terms;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">2.<span style=""> </span>to immediately take vigorous steps to protect the safety of human rights lawyers and judges, which steps should include the prosecution of alleged perpetrators;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">3.<span style=""> </span>to leave no stone unturned in investigating the serious allegations that its own security forces are involved in the killings;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">4.<span style=""> </span>to constitute and fully support an independent body, i.e. not controlled by the government, to investigate the killings, threats and harassment and to follow its recommendations; <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.25pt; text-indent: -35.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">5.<span style=""> </span>to take all other measures needed to end the culture of impunity and to restore the people’s faith in the functioning of the constitutional state and the rule of law. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;"><br /> </span> <h1 style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="_Toc141246860"></a><a name="_Toc141177644"><span style=""><span style="">LIST OF ANNEXES</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 1:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -15.8pt; line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Letter of the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation to President Gloria Arroyo of <st1:date year="2006" day="20" month="1" st="on">January 20, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 2: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Letter of the President of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region></st1:place> Bar Association of <st1:date month="6" day="8" year="2006" st="on">June 8, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 3: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Letter of the President of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Amsterdam</st1:City></st1:place> Bar Association of <st1:date month="6" day="13" year="2006" st="on">June 13, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 4: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Statement of Solidarity to the International Fact Finding <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Mission</st1:City></st1:place> on Attacks on Filipino Lawyers from the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) of <st1:date year="2006" day="12" month="6" st="on">June 12, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 5: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><st1:place st="on"><span style="">Mission</span></st1:place><span style=""> Statement of the IFFM of <st1:date year="2006" day="13" month="6" st="on">June 13, 2006</st1:date><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 6: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Initial Findings from the IFFM of <st1:date year="2006" day="20" month="6" st="on">June 20, 2006</st1:date><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 7: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">KARAPATAN 2005 Human Rights Report<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 8: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">TASK FORCE “USIG” Accomplishment Report as of <st1:date year="2006" day="20" month="6" st="on">June 20, 2006</st1:date><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 9: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">House of Representatives, Joint Resolution No. 17, “Joint Resolution creating an independent commission to conduct a thorough investigation of the widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings under the Arroyo Administration and to recommend measures and sanctions to stop the killings”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 10: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Power Point Presentation from the PNP dated <st1:date year="2006" day="20" month="6" st="on">June 20, 2006</st1:date> regarding the Task Force Judges, Prosecutors and IBP Lawyers, presented on <st1:date year="2006" day="19" month="6" st="on">June 19, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 11: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Letter of Yolanda G. Tanigue, Police Senior Superintendent of the National Headquarters, Philippine National Police of <st1:date year="2006" day="28" month="2" st="on">February 28, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Annex 12: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="">Letter of Raul M. Gonzales of the Department of Justice of <st1:date year="2006" day="13" month="3" st="on">March 13, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma; color: navy;"><br /> </span> <h1 style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="_Toc141246861"></a><a name="_Toc141177645"><span style=""><span style="">LIST OF SOURCES</span></span></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">In addition to the testimonies, the Annexes 1 to 12 and other documents provided by the individuals, agencies and organizations the IFFM has interviewed, the IFFM has also made use of the following public sources:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;">Treaties<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Protocols<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;">Laws<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> available at <a href="http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a3.asp">http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a3.asp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act [RA 6981]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Party-List System Act [RA 7941]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;">Reports <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Annually reports 2004 and 2006, Amnesty International, available at <a href="http://www.amnesty.org/">http://www.amnesty.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: <st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region>: <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> <st1:date year="2003" day="1" month="12" st="on">01/12/2003</st1:date>, CCPR/CO/79/PHL., <st1:date year="2003" day="1" month="12" st="on">1 December 2003</st1:date>, UN Human Rights Committee, available at <a href="http://www.unhchr.ch/">http://www.unhchr.ch</a></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Freedom of Expression and Media in the <st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region>, Article 19, <st1:city st="on">London</st1:City>, and CMFR, <st1:place st="on">Manila</st1:place> <span style=""> </span>December 2005, available at </span><span style=""><a href="http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/philippines-baseline-study.pdf">http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/philippines-baseline-study.pdf</a> </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Human Rights Lawyers in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>: An Endangered Species, Avocats Européens Démocrates, February 1991, <a href="http://www.lesad.org/aed.htm">http://www.lesad.org/aed.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">On the Killings of members of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and other allied organizations, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Quezon City</st1:City></st1:place>, <st1:date year="2006" day="8" month="7" st="on">July 8, 2006</st1:date>, Philippine Commission on Human Rights, available at <a href="http://www.chr.org.gov.ph/">http://www.chr.org.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Philippines</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-GB">, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2005, released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, <st1:date year="2006" day="8" month="3" st="on">March 8, 2006</st1:date> available at <a href="http://www.state.gov/">http://www.state.gov/</a><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB">Press Statements and other information<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Amnesty International available at<b style=""> </b></span><span style=""><a href="http://www.amnesty.org/">http://www.amnesty.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Asian Human Rights Commission available at <a href="http://www.ahrchk.net/index.php">http://www.ahrchk.net/index.php</a><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">CODAL available at <a href="http://counsels4liberties.blogspot.com/">http://counsels4liberties.blogspot.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">LAWASIA Statement on Violence against Judges and Lawyers in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> – issued <st1:date year="2005" day="7" month="11" st="on">November 7, 2005</st1:date>, available at <a href="http://www.lawasia.asn.au/">http://www.lawasia.asn.au</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Lawyers’ Rights Watch <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>, available at <a href="http://www.lrwc.org/">http://www.lrwc.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Philippine Government available at Office of the President Website <a href="http://www.gov.ph/news">http://www.gov.ph/news</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;">News Items<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Daily Tribune, <a href="http://www.tribune.net/">http://www.tribune.net</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><st1:place st="on"><span style="">Malaya</span></st1:place><span style="">, <a href="http://malaya.com.ph/">http://malaya.com.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Manila Bulletin Online, <a href="http://www.mb.com.ph/">http://www.mb.com.ph</a> <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Manila Standard Today, <a href="http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/">http://www.manilastandardtoday.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Manila Times, <a href="http://www.manilatimes.net/">http://www.manilatimes.net</a><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Philippine Daily Inquirer, <a href="http://www.inq7.net/">http://www.inq7.net</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="">Philippine Daily Star, <a href="http://www.philstar.com/">http://www.philstar.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB">Other Internet Sources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: navy;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Armed Forces of the<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>, http://</span><span style="line-height: 130%; color: green;" lang="NL"><a href="http://www.afp.mil.ph/"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">www.afp.mil.ph</span></a></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Department of Interior and Local Government, <a href="http://www.dilg.gov.ph/">http://www.dilg.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Department of Justice, <a href="http://www.doj.gov.ph/">http://www.doj.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, <a href="http://www.minbuza.nl/">http://www.minbuza.nl</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Philippine National Police, <a href="http://www.pnp.gov.ph/">http://www.pnp.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Supreme Court, <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/">http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph</a><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Commission on Human Rights, <a href="http://www.chr.gov.ph/">http://www.chr.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div style="" id="ftn1"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL, formerly the Committee for the Defense on the Attacks of Lawyers) was formed at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ (IBP) National Office meeting on 30 April, <st1:metricconverter productid="2005 in" st="on">2005 in</st1:metricconverter> order to – amongst other things – condemn and campaign against the rising attacks against members of the legal profession.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn2"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">KARAPATAN is a major human rights alliance in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> with a total of forty member organizations made up of human rights institutions, the rights desks of people’s organizations and the nationwide regional and provincial HR formations. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn3"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">The Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation seeks to ensure that lawyers around the world can exercise their profession without intimidation or interference. It supports lawyers who are hindered in the exercise of their profession while working for the protection of human rights.</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn4"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">The Annexes referred to in this report will be published at the Lawyers for Lawyers website <a href="http://www.advocatenvooradvocaten.nl/">www.advocatenvooradvocaten.nl</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn5"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;"><a href="http://www.advocatenzondergrenzen.nl/">http://www.advocatenzondergrenzen.nl</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn6"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.iadllaw.org/">http://www.iadllaw.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn7"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> VPRO’s broadcast is also available at <a href="http://www.ochtenden.nl/">http://www.ochtenden.nl</a><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn8"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;"><a href="http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/general.asp">http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/general.asp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn9"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn10"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Article 2, section 4 of the 1987 Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn11"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Idem, Article 13 (Section 17 and 18). <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn12"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Bayan Muna is a leftist political party of many different organizations including labor groups, youth, fisher folk, cultural and indigenous people’s organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn13"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> The NDFP is “the formal united front of the organizations of the basic forces of the revolution, comprising of the working class, the peasantry and the urban petty bourgeoisie”.</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn14"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> The NPA’s listing as terrorist organization is not fully undisputed; it is subjected to debates and some contrary views. The NPA itself claims not to attack civilian targets and to adhere to international humanitarian law.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn15"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> As of <st1:date year="2006" day="5" month="6" st="on">June 5, 2006</st1:date>, the JMC, through its Joint Secretariat, has received 106 complaints against the NDFP and 693 complaints against the Philippine government (GRP).<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn16"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered at EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the site of mass demonstrations that brought down Marcos in 1986) in January 2001 for days of protests that called for the ouster of Estrada. They believed he was guilty of all four charges against him: bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and violation of the constitution. Encouraged by the broad range of civil society groups that campaigned for Estrada’s ouster, police and military officials soon withdrew their support from the beleaguered president. The Supreme Court then declared the presidency vacant and Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,was sworn in as president.</span><u><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; color: blue;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn17"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Governmental News Statement; PGMA declares a State of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">National Emergency</st1:State></st1:place>, <st1:date year="2006" day="24" month="2" st="on">February 24, 2006</st1:date>, <a href="http://www.gov.ph/news">http://www.gov.ph/news</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn18"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran was arrested by the PNP on <st1:date year="2006" day="25" month="2" st="on">February 25, 2006</st1:date>. Five other legislators, Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teodoro Casi</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">ñ</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">o, Joel Virador and Rafael Mariano found refuge at the House of Representatives since <st1:date year="2006" day="27" month="2" st="on">February 27, 2006</st1:date>. The Police had threatened to arrest them if they would step out of the congress compound. Since <st1:date year="2006" day="8" month="5" st="on">May 8, 2006</st1:date>, they are able to walk around freely after the <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Makati Regional Trail Court</st1:address></st1:Street>’s decision of <st1:date year="2006" day="4" month="5" st="on">May 4, 2006</st1:date>, expunging the charges against the Batasan 5 from the rebellion-case against Beltran.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn19"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Amongst others, on <st1:date year="2006" day="25" month="4" st="on">April 25, 2006</st1:date>, the Supreme Court declared Arroyo’s Calibrated Pre-emptive Response (CPR) unconstitutional. The CPR authorized the police and the military to violently break up public demonstrations, even with tear gas and guns. The Supreme Court stressed that the CPR was being used to justify abuses by police elements.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn20"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;"><a href="http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=15578">http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=15578</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn21"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Philippine Daily Inquirer of <st1:date year="2006" day="20" month="6" st="on">Tuesday, June 20, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn22"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Idem.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn23"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;"><a href="http://www.chr.gov.ph/">http://www.chr.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn24"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[24]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> News item of <st1:date year="2006" day="25" month="5" st="on">May 25, 2006</st1:date>, taken from <a href="http://www.inq7.net/">http://www.inq7.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn25"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[25]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amnesty.org/">http://www.amnesty.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn26"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[26]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/index.htm">http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/index.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn27"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[27]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Amnesty International, Public Statement, AI Index: ASA 35/002/2006.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn28"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[28]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> KARAPATAN 2005 Human Rights Report.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn29"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[29]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> The term ‘militants’ in the Philippines usually refers to very vocal, active, organized and principled individuals or groups that are anti-establishment or are critical of governmental policies or programs such as mass organizations or people’s organizations of basic sectors in Philippine society like the farmers, workers and even professionals. It is not meant to refer to ‘violent or terrorist’.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn30"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref30" name="_ftn30" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[30]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> One lawyer showed us two threatening text messages which were received on May 1, 2006 and still saved in the phone’s memory:: “Your life is in my hand, you are encircled <span style=""> </span>with my goons, I pity you, you must be ready every time you go out, especially going in court, I think not a joke.” ; and “We’re sure it’s you, we’re ghosts, we can see you, you don’t see us, you must be ready to see St. Peter, you know when you die baby…You must refrain attending our next hearing”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn31"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[31]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">One of the threatening messages said: “You’re wearing a black barong, which is good for a wake.” Atty. Enriquez only wore his black barong in the Ecleo case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn32"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[32]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> “PGMA orders PNP to leave no stone unturned in probe into rash of killings, Press Statement, <st1:date month="5" day="17" year="2006" st="on">Wednesday, May 17, 2006</st1:date>, available at <a href="http://www.gov.ph/news">http://www.gov.ph/news</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn33"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[33]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Task Force “USIG” accomplishment report; As of <st1:date month="6" day="20" year="2006" st="on">June 20, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn34"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[34]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">The statistics on the status of the cases handled by this Task Force were presented to the IFFM in a power point presentation on <st1:date year="2006" day="19" month="6" st="on">June 19, 2006</st1:date>. According to the PNP, 16 killings happened in the period from 1999-2006 of which nine cases were filed and seven were still under investigation. Nine out of 16 occurred in the period from 2004-2006. Nine of the killings were considered as work-related and seven as not work-related.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn35"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[35]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">The IFFM was provided with a press release of June 5, 2006 issued by the Southern Luzon Command claiming that: “the document clearly pointed out to the CPP-NPA as the one who has been behind the recent purges, which he [Lt. General Cabuay] considered to be the continuation of the similar bloody purges of alleged military spies that have penetrated the movement in the 80s. (…).<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn36"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[36]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> According to Mr Lavilla, “Sources from Bayan Muna believed that the slaying of Atty. Dacut was the work of the military basing on the trend of the slaying and attempts on the lives of anti-government activists in Region XIII.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn37"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref37" name="_ftn37" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[37]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;">Update Report from PNP <st1:place st="on">Leyte</st1:place> of <st1:date year="2006" day="24" month="5" st="on">May 24, 2006</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn38"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref38" name="_ftn38" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[38]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> On the killings of members of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and other allied organizations, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Quezon City</st1:City></st1:place>, <st1:date year="2006" day="8" month="7" st="on">July 8, 2006</st1:date> available at <a href="http://www.chr.org.gov.ph/">http://www.chr.org.gov.ph</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn39"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref39" name="_ftn39" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[39]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> News item of <st1:date month="5" day="25" year="2006" st="on">May 25, 2006</st1:date>, taken from <a href="http://www.inq7.net/">http://www.inq7.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn40"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="" href="#_ftnref40" name="_ftn40" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[40]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB">From 2001 till 2003, Colonel Palparan became known to the public as the Commanding Officer of the AFP’s 204<sup>th</sup> Infantry Battalion in Oriental Mindoro. “The Butcher of Mindoro”, as he was named by militant groups, came under investigation by both the justice department and Congress following reports in connection with the abduction and killing of several activists and civilians. Before the investigations came to an end, President Arroyo promoted him to brigadier general and sent him to lead the Philippine troops in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>. In his fight against insurgency as Commander of the 8<sup>th</sup> Infantry Division in Samar, Eastern Visayas from February till September 2005, Palparan was accused by human rights groups for hundreds of human rights violations: abduction and enforced disappearances; summary execution, torture and physical assault; arson; aerial bombing; looting; forced evacuations; threats and intimidation. During an Assembly of Barangay Captains in <st1:place st="on">Samar</st1:place>, he reportedly said: “For every soldier killed, ten civilians will follow”. After 7 months, the newly promoted Major General was transferred to <st1:place st="on">Central Luzon</st1:place> to command the 7th Infantry Division. Human rights organizations say the killings and disappearances in that area have stepped up ever since. There are many pending cases against him. However, the General has never been convicted. </span><span style="line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div> <div style="" id="ftn41"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="#_ftnref41" name="_ftn41" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="NL"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="NL">[41]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;" lang="EN-GB"> Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Human Rights Record, <st1:date month="5" day="27" year="2006" st="on">Saturday, May 27, 2006</st1:date>, available at </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 130%;"><a href="http://www.gov.ph/news">http://www.gov.ph/news</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div>codalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01070434876176932318noreply@blogger.com4